Manitoba Rent Increases: The 2026 and 2027 Guidelines, Notice Rules, and Your Right to Object

Manitoba is one of the few provinces that sets a firm yearly limit on rent increases for most homes. That limit is called the rent increase guideline, and it decides how much a landlord can raise your rent without asking the Residential Tenancies Branch for special approval. If you rent in Manitoba, or you own a rental home here, these are the numbers and the notice rules that matter right now.

The guideline for 2026 and the guideline for 2027

The guideline that applies to you depends on the date your increase takes effect, not the date your landlord sends the notice. An increase that begins any time in the 2026 calendar year is capped at 1.8 per cent. An increase that begins on or after January 1, 2027 is capped at 3.0 per cent. The Branch announces each new guideline ahead of time, and it takes effect on January 1 of its year.

The math is simple. On rent of 1,000 dollars a month, the 2026 guideline allows an increase of 18 dollars, for new rent of 1,018 dollars. The 2027 guideline allows an increase of 30 dollars on that same rent, for new rent of 1,030 dollars. A landlord can always choose to increase by less than the guideline, or not at all.

The guideline is set under the Residential Rent Regulation using the average annual change in the Manitoba Consumer Price Index, as published by Statistics Canada, and the result must fall within the Bank of Canada inflation control range of one to three per cent. The Branch also publishes an economic adjustment factor with the guideline, set at 1.9 per cent for 2027.

For context, recent guidelines were 3 per cent in 2024 and 1.7 per cent in 2025, after the guideline was held at zero per cent in 2022 and 2023.

Which homes the guideline covers

The guideline applies to most rented residential apartments, single rooms, houses, and duplexes in Manitoba. Some units are exempt from the guideline sections of The Residential Tenancies Act and do not have to follow it. The exempt categories include:

1. Units renting at or above a set monthly amount. For increases in 2026, that amount is 1,670 dollars or more per month. The Branch lists the amount as 2,000 dollars or more per month for 2027.
2. Various types of social housing.
3. Units owned and operated by, or for, the provincial, municipal, or federal governments.
4. Units in buildings first occupied after March 2005. Branch guidance treats these newer units as exempt for 20 years.
5. Not for profit life lease units.
6. Cooperative units.
7. Approved rehabilitated rental units.

Exempt from the guideline does not mean exempt from notice. A landlord of an exempt unit still has to give proper written notice of an increase at least three months ahead. If you are not sure whether your home is exempt, ask the Branch before you agree to anything.

The notice your landlord must give

A rent increase in Manitoba lives or dies on its notice, and a defective notice can make an increase invalid.

1. The notice must be in writing. A conversation, a text about new rent, or a note under the door that lacks the required details is not enough.
2. You must receive it at least three months before the increase takes effect. For an increase that starts January 1, you must receive the notice on or before September 30.
3. The Branch provides a Notice of Rent Increase form for landlords to use, including an electronic submission option.

A proper notice tells you all of the following:

1. The date the increase takes effect.
2. The rent you pay now.
3. The new rent, and the size of the increase in dollars and as a percentage.
4. The annual rent increase guideline.
5. That the increase is not allowed unless you receive three months of notice.
6. That you have the right to object to the increase.

Rent can only be increased once in a 12 month period in most circumstances. If your rent went up less than 12 months ago, a second increase is a red flag worth checking with the Branch.

Increases above the guideline

A landlord who believes the guideline will not cover real cost increases can apply to the Branch for permission to raise rent by more. This is called an above guideline increase, and the landlord carries the burden of proving it. Key points:

1. The landlord must give the Branch information about operating expenses, such as property taxes, utility bills, and repair costs, and capital expenses, such as replacing a roof or buying new appliances.
2. The expenses must already have been paid for or billed. A landlord cannot apply based on work that is only planned.
3. Tenants get a say. The Branch will invite you to review the application and give your comments in writing. If the landlord claims work was done and you know it was not, say so.
4. An officer reviews everything and issues an order setting the rent. The order includes reasons.
5. If your increase date arrives before the order and you pay the proposed rent, but the order later sets a lower rent, your landlord must refund the overpayment, by cheque or by letting you deduct it from a future month of rent.
6. If you disagree with the order, you can appeal it to the Residential Tenancies Commission by sending a letter. There is no charge to file that appeal, and the Commission order is final.

How to object to an increase

You do not have to accept an increase quietly, even one that matches the guideline. A tenant can object to any rent increase, whether it is at, above, or below the guideline. To object, send a letter to the Residential Tenancies Branch explaining why you disagree. The Branch must receive your letter at least 60 days before your rent increase date. If it arrives late, the Branch cannot consider your objection, so do not leave this to the final month. When the Branch receives an objection, an officer will speak with you and your landlord about your concerns.

Steps to take when a notice arrives

1. Write down the date you received the notice. The three month clock runs from proper notice, and the date matters.
2. Check the effective date. Count forward three full months from when you received it.
3. Check the math. Work out the percentage increase and compare it with the guideline for the year the increase takes effect.
4. Check whether your unit is exempt, and ask the Branch if you are unsure.
5. If the increase is above the guideline, watch for papers about the landlord application and send your comments or objection on time.
6. Keep the notice and copies of anything you send. Paper wins disputes.

Common mistakes

Paying first and asking later. If a notice is short on time or the math is over the guideline, contact the Branch right away. Objection deadlines pass quickly, and the 60 day deadline for objections is firm.

Assuming a verbal increase counts. It does not. No proper written notice, no valid increase.

Ignoring above guideline papers. Tenants who say nothing still get an order setting their rent, but the officer decides without their side of the story. A short written comment can change the result.

Forgetting the calendar. The guideline changes every January 1. An increase that takes effect in December uses the guideline for that year, even if most of the notice period ran during the year before.

In Winnipeg, call 204 945 2476. The toll free number in Manitoba is 1 800 782 8403, and the email address is rtb@gov.mb.ca.

A quick note on what this page is

This page is general legal information about Manitoba tenancy rules, written in plain language. It is not legal advice, and it does not replace the Residential Tenancies Branch, a lawyer, or a community legal clinic for advice about your own situation. Guidelines and forms change from year to year, so confirm the current figures with the Branch before you act on a deadline. This page was verified against official Manitoba sources on October 14, 2026.