© Fernando Calderón
In Quebec, a rental lease automatically renews until the tenant decides not to renew it or until they receive a notice regarding it.
Thus, since the contract renews each year, it is possible to renegotiate and modify certain parts of the lease. A rent increase is one of several changes that can be requested in the lease. However, both parties (i.e., the landlord and the tenant) must agree. You always have the right to refuse the rent increase and any other modification to the lease. Additionally, there are specific deadlines for making these requests. Your landlord cannot increase your rent at any time.
The deadlines
The deadlines for lease modifications and rent increase notices are strict and depend on the length of your lease (one year or more, less than a year, and indefinite):
If the notice is sent out of time, the notice is invalid.
If the notice is sent on time, you have 1 month to make your decision.
The possible answers
- I accept the renewal of the lease with its modifications;
- I object to the proposed modifications and I renew my lease;
- I do not renew my lease and I will vacate upon termination of the lease.
Estimate your rent increase
The Regroupement des comités logement et associations de locataires du Québec (RCLALQ) offers an online tool to calculate your rent increase (French only).
WARNING! This is an estimate of your rent increase. There may be differences between the Rental Board’s calculation and this simple estimation tool. This calculation is for informational purposes to help you determine if the proposed increase seems reasonable.
ALSO, If your lease renews between April 1 and December 31, you should use the tax amounts for the current year and the previous year. However, if your lease renews between January 1 and March 31, you should use the tax statements for the previous year and the year before that (for example, for 2024, you should use the tax statements for 2022 and 2023).
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE FOLLOWING METHOD APPLIES TO RENT INCREASES FOR LEASES FROM APRIL 2, 2026, TO APRIL 1, 2027.
Step 1: Calculate the basic authorized increase
Your current rent ______________ x 3.1% (2026 base index) = $________
Step 2: Calculate the amount for municipal taxes
Call 311. Request the amount of municipal taxes for the current year AND the previous year. They will ask for your address and then provide you with the tax amounts.
Online (French only): https://servicesenligne2.ville.montreal.qc.ca/sel/evalweb/index
If the municipal tax increase is less than or equal to the authorized base index (3.1%), you do not need to add anything at this stage. However, if the increase exceeds 3.1%, only the excess can be added to your increase.
2026 municipal taxes: $________ – 2025 municipal taxes: $________ = $________ (tax increase)
Ex: $11,561 (2026 tax) – $11,000 (2025 tax) = $561 (tax increase)
- Check if your tax increase is higher than the base index of 3.1%
3.1% (base index) x 2025 tax amount ________ = __________ (amount covered by the base index)
Example: 3.1% (base index) x $11,000 (2025 tax amount) = $341 (amount covered by the base index)
If the amount of your tax increase is lower than the amount covered by the base index = $0 no fee
If the amount of your tax increase is higher than the amount covered, follow these instructions:
Tax increase ________ – Amount covered by the base index________ = _______ difference $
Example: $561 (tax increase) – $341 (amount covered by the base index) = $220 difference
- The difference allows you to calculate the surplus that your landlord can charge you.
Difference ______ $ ÷ Number of units ÷ 12 months = Amount to add: ______ $/month
Example: $220 (difference) ÷ 5 units = $44 ÷ 12 months = $3.66/month
Step 3: Calculate the amount for school taxes
Call 514 384-5034 (press 0, and a person will take your call). Request the amount of school taxes for the previous year AND the current year. They will ask for your address and then provide you with the tax amounts.
Online (click on “view data” under “consultation”): https://tfp.cgtsim.qc.ca/asp/tfp.aspx
School taxes 2025-2026: $________ – School taxes 2024-2025: $________ = Tax increase: $________
- Check if this increase is higher than the base index of 3.1%
If the amount of your tax increase is lower than the amount covered by the base index = $0 no fees
If the amount of your tax increase is higher than the amount covered, follow the same steps as for municipal taxes
Step 4 (optional): Add major works from the previous year
The work must have been completed between January 1 and December 31 of the previous year.
The landlord can add 5% of the cost of the work, spread over 12 months.
If the work affects the entire building, the amount must also be divided by the number of units.
Example: 5% of $1,000 in work = $50 per year = $4.17 per month.
Step 5: Add all amounts
Step 1 + 2 + 3 + (4) = _________ $
This amount is an estimate* of what the Tribunal would authorize if you refused the increase requested by the landlord.
* However, a large increase in insurance (more than 3.1%) could change this amount!
Rent fixation
Have you sent a letter rejecting the rent increase to your landlord? The ball is now in your landlord’s court.
Your landlord has two options: do nothing or file an application for rent fixation. As mentioned earlier, if the two parties cannot agree on the lease modification, a judge will be called in to fix the rent.
If your landlord does nothing within a month of receiving your refusal notice, there will be no rent increase. When your lease renews, you can continue to pay the same rent.
If your landlord files an application for rent fixation, you will receive a notice from them and a hearing date from the Rental Board.
You must be there on the day of the hearing. The judge will calculate the rent according to the criteria for the fixing of rent and decide on the new rent amount.
