Welcome to the Saddest Club on Earth—where landlords painfully watch their rent roll in slower than molasses. We get it: mortgages don’t pay themselves, repairs pop up like unwelcome guests, and utility bills could fund a small vacation (if only you had the time or money). Thankfully, there’s hope beyond the sorrow. Shelterly has spent years perfecting strategies that boost rental income, streamline tenant management, and keep your finances on track. Our proven methods help you set the right rents, enforce prompt payments, and manage pesky expenses so you can finally turn a real profit—and save the tears for something truly sad (like that last Leafs game). It’s time to graduate from the Saddest Club on Earth and join Shelterly’s success stories instead!
Textbook Methods of Increasing Rent
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Annual Guideline Increase
You can raise rent once every 12 months, provided you don’t exceed the provincial rent increase guideline. Ontario law requires at least 90 days’ written notice to the tenant before the new rent takes effect.
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Above-Guideline Increase (AGI)
If you’ve made significant capital improvements or incurred unusually high expenses (e.g., security enhancements), you may apply to the Landlord and Tenant Board for permission to increase rent above the standard guideline.
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Vacancy Decontrol
When a tenant voluntarily moves out, you’re free to set the rent at any amount for the next tenant. If your unit ha become vacate, contact Shelterly for hassle-free property management.
Pro Tip:
In Ontario, the rent increase guideline does not apply to rental units that were first occupied after November 15, 2018. This includes new buildings, additions to existing buildings, and most new basement apartments.
If your property was built after this date, there is no rent control, and you can increase the rent, by however much you choose.
