Rental market update: what Ontario tenants and landlords are dealing with

Ontario's rental rules split by building age. Units first occupied for residential purposes after November 15, 2018 are exempt from the annual rent increase guideline, while older units are covered by it. That single date explains much of the difference between two similar-looking apartments.

Ontario also uses vacancy decontrol: when a unit turns over, the landlord can set a new starting rent. That is why long-term tenants often pay well below what the same unit would ask today.

Tenants should confirm which category a unit falls into before signing, and should expect the standard provincial lease form for most residential tenancies. Landlords should keep records of increases and notices, since the Landlord and Tenant Board process is documentation-driven.