Landlords cannot increase the rent on a rental property until:

• 12 months have passed since the last rent increase, or

• since the date the property was first rented if it has not been rented before.

Landlords must give tenants written notice of the rent increase at least three months before it takes effect, and the increase does not take effect until three months after the notice is given.

If a landlord violates these rules, a tenant can apply to a rental officer who may order the landlord to return all or part of the rent increase.

• If a tenant receives notice of a rent increase, they can choose to terminate the rental agreement and move out before the rent increase takes effect.

  • If they do, the landlord must give any new tenant a copy of the notice and rent the property at the increased rate. This law does not apply to subsidized public housing.

NWT RTA s.47