British Columbia Rent Increase Calculator
2.2% maximum for 2027, 3 months' notice, once every 12 months
Enter the rent and the dates to see what British Columbia law allows.
British Columbia rent increase rules
British Columbia ties the maximum to inflation, using the 12-month average change in the BC consumer price index. The cap applies to nearly all residential tenancies regardless of when the building was built, and the government announces the next year's figure in late summer.
| Applies to | Limit |
|---|---|
| 2025 maximum | 3% |
| 2026 maximum | 2.3% |
| 2027 maximum | 2.2% |
- Form RTB-7, 3 months
- Administered by the Residential Tenancy Branch.
Manufactured home park tenancies are capped at the same percentage plus a proportional share of changes in local government levies and regulated utilities. This calculator does not model that add-on.
How British Columbia rent increase rules have changed
Annual limit by province, 2017 to 2027
Quebec shows the tribunal’s recommended increase for an unheated unit, which is a reference point rather than a cap. Gaps are years with no percentage limit or no confirmed figure.
| Province | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ontario | 1.5% | 1.8% | 1.8% | 2.2% | 0% | 1.2% | 2.5% | 2.5% | 2.5% | 2.1% | 1.9% |
| British Columbia | 3.7% | 4% | 2.5% | 2.6% | 0% | 1.5% | 2% | 3.5% | 3% | 2.3% | 2.2% |
| Alberta | No percentage limit in any of these years | ||||||||||
| Saskatchewan | No percentage limit in any of these years | ||||||||||
| Manitoba | — | — | 2.2% | 2.4% | 1.6% | 0% | 0% | 3% | 1.7% | 1.8% | 3% |
| Quebec | — | — | — | — | 0.8% | 1.3% | 2.3% | 4% | 5.9% | 3.1% | TBA |
| New Brunswick | — | — | — | — | — | 3.8% | — | — | 3% | 3% | 3% |
| Nova Scotia | — | — | — | — | 2% | 2% | 2% | 5% | 5% | 5% | 5% |
| Prince Edward Island | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0% | 3% | 2.3% | 2% | TBA |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | No percentage limit in any of these years | ||||||||||
Notes on starred years
- Ontario 2021: Pandemic freeze
- British Columbia 2021: Pandemic freeze (CPI was 1.4%)
- British Columbia 2023: CPI was 5.4%; the government capped the increase at 2.0%
- Manitoba 2022: Freeze
- Manitoba 2023: Freeze
- Prince Edward Island 2023: Freeze set by legislation; landlords could apply to IRAC for more
- Prince Edward Island 2024: Ceiling under the new Act; 2024 landlords could apply for up to 3 points more
- Quebec 2021: TAL recommended rate for an unheated unit. Not a legal cap.
- Quebec 2022: TAL recommended rate. Not a legal cap.
- Quebec 2023: TAL recommended rate. Not a legal cap.
- Quebec 2024: TAL recommended rate. Not a legal cap.
- Quebec 2025: TAL recommended rate for an unheated unit, the highest since 1988. Not a legal cap.
- Quebec 2026: TAL base rate under the new method (secondary reporting). Not a legal cap.
- New Brunswick 2022: One-year cap under Bill 96
- Nova Scotia 2021: Temporary cap, introduced November 2020
Changes in legislation and policy
| When | What changed |
|---|---|
| 2018 | Formula set to change from inflation plus 2% to inflation Before 2018 the maximum was the inflation rate plus 2.0%. After a Rental Housing Task Force recommendation it was cut to the inflation rate, which first shows in the 2019 figure (2.5%). BC: History of rent increases |
| March 2020 | Pandemic rent freeze Increases were frozen from March 2020 through the end of 2021, so the 2021 maximum was 0% even though inflation was 1.4%. Daily Hive: BC lifts rate freeze |
| 2022 | Freeze lifted, 1.5% maximum The 2022 maximum went back to the inflation rate, 1.5%. BC: History of rent increases |
| 2023 | Maximum capped at 2.0% against 5.4% inflation The formula would have produced 5.4%. The government set the 2023 maximum at 2.0%, which is why the figure sits below the CPI-based rule that normally applies. BC: History of rent increases |
| August 2026 | 2027 maximum set at 2.2% Announced in late August 2026, effective 1 January 2027. BC Government: 2027 maximum |
Increases above the limit
A landlord can apply to the Residential Tenancy Branch for an additional rent increase, for example for eligible capital expenditures or where the rent is significantly below comparable units. Without that order, anything above the maximum is unenforceable.
When a tenant leaves
BC has vacancy decontrol. When a tenant leaves, the landlord can set a new rent for the next tenant, and the cap restarts from that figure.
Frequently asked questions
What is the maximum rent increase in BC for 2027?
2.2%, effective 1 January 2027, down from 2.3% in 2026. The figure follows the 12-month average BC CPI change.
How much notice does a BC landlord have to give?
Three full months' written notice on the Residential Tenancy Branch form (RTB-7), and no more than one increase every 12 months.
Can my BC landlord raise the rent more than the maximum?
Only with a Residential Tenancy Branch order approving an additional increase. A tenant who has not agreed in writing does not have to pay more than the maximum.
Rent increase calculators for other provinces
Sources
- BC Government: 2027 maximum allowable rent increase
- BC Government: 2026 maximum allowable rent increase
Last checked 2026-10-29. Legislation and yearly figures change, and this is not legal advice. Confirm with the Residential Tenancy Branch before serving or contesting a notice.