A new method since January 1, 2026. For the first time in more than 40 years, Quebec has modernized the way rent increases are calculated. The changes to the Regulation respecting the criteria for fixing rent apply to lease-modification notices given since January 1, 2026, according to the Tribunal administratif du logement (TAL). The stated goal: a simpler and more predictable calculation.
What changes in the calculation. The method now rests mainly on changes in the cost of living — the Consumer Price Index (CPI) measured over three years — with a few added factors such as municipal taxes, insurance and a share of maintenance expenses. The TAL publishes the applicable rate each year, so check the current year's figure rather than relying on a rough estimate.
An increase is neither automatic nor mandatory. A landlord who wants to raise the rent must send you a lease-modification notice within the set deadlines. You can accept it, refuse it or negotiate. If you refuse and the landlord maintains the request, the TAL sets the rent — and the calculation serves as the reference for that decision.
The lease and the notice were also revised. Alongside this, the lease form and the lease-modification notice were updated. When you sign a new lease or receive a notice, make sure you use the official, up-to-date version, available from the TAL.
Good to know for newcomers. Receiving a notice of increase does not mean you must pay the amount asked without discussion. Check the year's rate on the TAL website, respond to the notice within the deadline (do not ignore it), and keep a written record. To learn your protections as a tenant, see our guide to tenant rights in Quebec.
