Manitoba Rent Hike Set for 2026 as Landlords Face New Guidelines

Manitoba renters will experience an increase in their rental costs starting in January 2026, as the provincial government has announced a maximum allowable rent hike of 1.8 percent. This adjustment marks an increase from the 1.7 percent ceiling set for 2025.

The announcement was made public in a news release from the Province of Manitoba on Friday. Landlords must provide written notifications of any rent increases at least three months prior to the change taking effect. Consequently, for a rent increase scheduled for January 1, 2026, tenants must be informed by September 30, 2025.

Annual Rent Guidelines and Exemptions

Each year, the rent increase guideline is recalculated using a formula based on Manitoba’s consumer price index. This guideline applies to most residential rental properties, including apartments, single rooms, houses, and duplexes. However, it does not apply to rental units priced above $1,670 per month or those in buildings first occupied after March 2005. Additionally, social housing units, co-operative housing, non-profit life lease units, and government-operated properties are exempt from these regulations.

In recent years, the rent increase guideline has fluctuated, with a significant freeze of zero percent in both 2022 and 2023. In 2024, the guideline was set at three percent. According to the provincial regulations, landlords are typically allowed to increase rent only once a year.

Despite these regulations, criticism has emerged regarding their effectiveness. Advocates for tenants have long argued that the rules are insufficiently enforced and that loopholes exist, allowing landlords to impose rent increases that exceed the annual guideline.

Concerns Raised Over Above-Guideline Increases

In a report released in February by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, researchers highlighted concerns regarding Manitoba’s rent guidelines. The report revealed that nearly 60,000 units were approved for rent increases higher than the established guidelines between 2019 and 2021. The average approved increase during this period was notably high, reaching 10.8 percent in 2019, 11.65 percent in 2020, and 10.3 percent in 2021.

The report further emphasized that landlords often utilize above-guideline increases to cover costs associated with repairs and upgrades. This practice blurs the line between a landlord’s responsibility to maintain their properties and the additional expenses transferred to tenants. As stated in the report, “Renters have no say in the changes that happen to their homes and are forced to pay for these changes in perpetuity.”

Landlords seeking higher rents apply to the residential tenancies branch, claiming increased operating and capital expenses that exceed the annual guideline. This process has raised significant concerns among tenant advocacy groups, prompting calls for a reassessment of the current rental regulations.

As Manitoba prepares for the upcoming rent increase, the impact on renters, particularly those in lower-income brackets, remains a pressing concern. The provincial government has yet to address these criticisms, leaving many renters apprehensive about the financial burden of rising housing costs in the near future.