How Canadian Landlords Can Offer Quality Housing at a Fair Price—Even Under Rent Control

Rent control policies shape how housing works across Canada. There’s no national system, so each province and territory sets its own rules. Some are strict, with hard limits on how much landlords can raise the rent each year. Others take a looser approach, focusing more on notice periods and timing. Whether you're a landlord or a tenant, these rules affect how much homes cost, how well buildings are maintained, and what kind of housing stock is available in the long run.

But while the laws are important, the real question is this: how can landlords offer apartments that are actually good quality, without pricing people out? Especially as costs keep rising like property taxes, insurance, utilities, it’s not always easy to strike a balance. Still, plenty of landlords across Canada are figuring it out. They’re finding smart, sustainable ways to keep tenants happy and stay profitable, even within the limits of rent control.

In Ontario, for example, the province has capped rent increases at 2.5% for 2025 for most buildings built before late 2018. In British Columbia, the cap is 3.0%. Quebec doesn’t have a fixed cap, it uses a cost-based formula, and tenants can challenge increases if they feel they’re too high. Meanwhile, Alberta and Saskatchewan have no rent caps at all, but landlords still need to follow rules about how often and when they can increase rent. Across the Atlantic provinces and the North, the policies vary, but most include some combination of notice requirements and limits tied to inflation or upgrades. For landlords, this patchwork of rules makes planning a challenge. But it also pushes them to get creative, and that’s where some of the best ideas come from.

One of the most straightforward ways to keep tenants happy is regular maintenance. It’s easy to overlook, especially when the property seems fine. But routine checks on plumbing, heating, insulation, and safety equipment, can prevent big repair bills later on and show tenants that you care. One landlord in Hamilton, Ontario, for instance, started a quarterly maintenance program in a small triplex. It cost just a couple hundred dollars a year, but it cut down on emergencies and helped keep tenants long-term. Little things like that go a long way.

When larger upgrades are needed, some provinces allow landlords to apply for what’s called an "above-guideline increase" or AGI. This lets them raise rent slightly beyond the usual limit, as long as the increase is tied to a major investment, like a new roof, boiler, or windows. But the key is communication. A landlord in Toronto recently replaced an aging heating system across 10 units. Instead of just filing the AGI paperwork and waiting, they sent tenants a clear breakdown of the cost, the benefits (like lower heating bills), and the timeline. The result? Far less resistance and a smoother approval process with the board.

Even in provinces with strict rent caps, landlords can still add value in ways that tenants appreciate. One small building in Kelowna added high-speed internet and regular hallway cleaning for all units at no extra charge. The costs were modest, especially with a bulk internet deal, but the perception of value was huge. Tenants were happier, word-of-mouth referrals improved, and the landlord was able to justify rent increases within the 3.0% cap.

Not all improvements need to be expensive. Sometimes it’s about being smart with what you do and what you skip. In Regina, a landlord faced pressure to update an older building but couldn’t afford a full gut renovation. Instead, they focused on a few key areas: lighting, paint, and flooring. With some stylish interlocking floor plank and fresh light fixtures, the place looked newer and brighter for just a few thousand dollars per unit. That was enough to attract new tenants and raise the rent slightly in a province without rent caps, without alienating anyone.

It’s also worth remembering that good tenants are worth keeping. Some landlords are quick to raise rent at every opportunity, but others take a longer view. One property owner in Moncton decided not to increase rent for a couple who had been in the unit five years, always paid on time, and kept the place in great shape. They didn’t ask for much, referred a friend to another vacant unit, and ended up saving the landlord money on turnover costs. The landlord called it “the best $40 a month I’ve ever not made.”

How Landlords and Tenants Can Work Together

But landlords aren’t the only ones with a role to play. The best rental situations happen when tenants and landlords work together. That means tenants reporting problems before they get worse. It means landlords listening and responding without dragging their feet. In one case in Halifax, a tenant reported drafty windows early in the winter, and the landlord sealed them the next day. No blown-up heating bills. No resentment. Just mutual respect.

Transparency also matters. If rent has to go up, tenants are far more likely to understand if they know why. Rising property taxes? Insurance premiums doubling? A full roof replacement that’s not cheap? These things happen, and most reasonable tenants don’t expect landlords to eat the cost forever. But if it’s just a vague increase with no explanation, that’s when people start to feel taken advantage of. A simple breakdown, even in a short email or posted notice, makes a difference.

Some landlords also ask for tenant feedback before making improvements. One owner in Ottawa wanted to renovate a common area but wasn’t sure where to start. After asking tenants, it turned out most people just wanted better lighting and a lockable bike rack out front. The upgrade cost far less than expected—and tenants felt heard.

Lease flexibility can help too. Offering a two-year lease with a predictable, modest increase in year two provides security for tenants and stability for landlords. It removes the need for sudden, sharp increases or difficult conversations during tough economic times.

In provinces like Quebec, where the system is more case-by-case, communication becomes even more important. Rent increases there must be backed by evidence, higher taxes, utility bills, maintenance expenses. But more than that, tenants want to know they’re being treated fairly. Landlords who document everything, give plenty of notice, and explain their reasoning tend to have fewer disputes—and better relationships.

A Sustainable Future for Rental Housing

At the end of the day, rental housing isn’t just a financial transaction. It’s a relationship. When landlords treat their tenants with respect—and when tenants do the same—both sides win. Tenants get stability, safety, and a sense of home. Landlords get reliable income, lower turnover, and fewer headaches.

The goal shouldn’t be to squeeze every dollar from every square foot. It should be to run a clean, well-maintained, fairly priced business that supports the people who live in it. Good housing is a partnership. And in today’s market—where rules, costs, and expectations are all rising—it’s the partnerships that last.