Step 3: Notify your tenant of the rent increase

A good rule of thumb for a fixed-term lease is to provide your tenant with at least three months’ written notice. 

How you send your notice to your tenant is up to you. You can use certified mail, email, or hand it to them in person. But whatever method you choose, you must establish proof that you attempted to deliver it using all reasonable means, even if your tenant didn’t see it. Otherwise, if the rent increase is disputed, the court will consider the rent increase unlawful.

Periodic lease

Step 1: Determine your new rent price

Before doing any paperwork, decide what your new rent will be. Consider how much you’ve spent over the past year on operating expenses and property improvements (such as a kitchen renovation). If your costs have increased, calculate how much you’d have to raise your rent to maintain your current profit margin. Second, research current rental rates in your area for properties comparable to yours. Are prices rising or falling and by how much? 

Step 2: Prepare the notice of rent increase for your tenant

In Alberta, you’re legally required to inform your tenant of an upcoming rent increase only if the tenancy is periodic. If you’d like to raise your rent for a periodic tenancy, your notice must be in writing and include the following details:

• The date 
• The effective date of the increase
• Your signature

While there’s no specific form you have to use to prepare your notice, this Notice of Rent Increase template is a good place to start.

While not mandatory, it’s wise to explain reasons for the rent increase. You can also break down the rising operating costs and list details about local rent prices for similar units. 

Being open and transparent will help your tenant understand why you’ve chosen the rent price you did.

Step 3: Notify your tenant of the rent increase

The amount of notice you must provide to your tenant depends on the type of tenancy:

• For a month-to-month tenancy, you must give your tenant at least three months’ notice before the rent increase takes effect.
• For a week-to-week tenancy, you must give your tenant at least 12 weeks’ notice before the rent increase takes effect.
• For tenancies of any other periodic term, you must give your tenant at least 90 days’ notice before the rent increase takes effect.

If your notice doesn’t contain the legally required information, it’s invalid. As a result, your tenant will have no obligation to pay the increased rent. Even if your tenant pays the new rent fee, they can still apply with the Alberta Court of Justice or Residential Tenancy Dispute Resolution (RTDRS) to obtain a refund. 

Resolving issues about rent control

If you’re entangled in a dispute about rent prices with your tenant, you can contact the RTDRS to help resolve it. The RTDRS is a tribunal that deals with residential tenancy cases and issues judgments. It’s an alternative dispute-resolution system to the Alberta Court that can lead to faster hearings and resolutions. You can apply online through the organization’s eFiling service. 

While there’s no cap on how much you can raise your rent in Alberta, a tenant can still file a complaint against you under the Residential Tenancy Act of Alberta (RTA) if they feel your price is excessive. 

Our final thoughts

Just as it was in 2024, there’s no maximum allowable rent increase in 2025 for residential rental properties in Alberta. As a landlord or property owner, you can raise your rent as much as you deem appropriate. Keep in mind that you want to be fair to your tenant and not increase their rent unreasonably.

You must also wait at least one year before increasing your rent price, regardless of whether the tenancy is fixed or periodic. And you can only do so if you submit a written notice to your tenant that contains all the legally required information. 

Visit the Government of Alberta website to learn more about Alberta’s 2025 rent increase guidelines. Also, check out our Alberta rental documents page, where we’ve compiled every document you need to notify your tenant of changes to their lease agreement, including rent increases.