Landlords use a Rent Increase Notice to inform tenants of a raise in rent charges. By delivering this document, landlords fulfill their obligations to provide appropriate notice periods and fair rent adjustments.

A Rent Increase Notice gives tenants time to prepare for and comply with rent changes. It contains important information tenants need to figure out how and when to adjust their budgets.

Here's the information you'll need to have on hand to fill out LawDepot's Rent Increase Notice template:

• The full names of both the landlord and tenant
• The location of the property
• The type of lease (e.g. monthly, yearly, etc.)
• Details about the lease (start date and signing date)
• Details about the rent (current charges vs. new charges and effective dates)

If needed, you can also specify your preferred method of rent collection. For instance, some landlords require payments to be sent to their office. In this case, you can specify the address that tenants can submit payments to as well as the accepted payment methods (e.g. cash, money order, etc.).

The amount of notice you should provide before increasing rent depends on provincial or territorial laws. Notice periods may vary depending on the type of lease agreement (e.g. longer notice periods for longer tenancy periods).

Laws may also specify when you're allowed to increase rent and by how much (e.g. once every 12 months by an amount equal to inflation). Official guidelines may change each year, so be sure to check the requirements in your jurisdiction before increasing rent.

When calculating a rent increase, be sure first to comply with your landlord obligations; this includes any rent control legislation in your jurisdiction and the terms of your lease agreement.

Once you've fulfilled your duties as a landlord, you may consider several factors when increasing rent:

• The rental market in your area
• How frequently you increase the rent
• The current rate of inflation
• The attitude or behaviour of your tenant

Rent increases are often between 1–5% of the total rent charge. A landlord may choose a smaller increase (1–2%) if they frequently raise the rent and want to avoid unintentionally forcing a reliable tenant out.

Alternatively, a landlord may choose a larger increase (3–5%) to match the rental market in the area or to offset costs caused by an unruly tenant. Keep in mind that some jurisdictions do not allow landlords to raise the rent as a retaliatory action against a tenant. For more information on rent increase regulations, refer to your local landlord and tenant board.

In most cases, there are no formal requirements for delivering a Rent Increase Notice. Landlords and tenants can serve each other notices, as long they're delivered within the appropriate time frame and include all of the necessary information (effective dates, amounts, etc.).

The most important part about delivery is proving that the recipient (in this case, the tenant) actually received the notice. To this end, some landlords prefer to deliver notices in-person or through registered mail. Electronic delivery, however, is often a difficult method to prove. Some jurisdictions may prohibit electronic delivery, so be sure to check your local laws.