09/30/2026
đ¸ A client with 20 units told me he wants to cut the $2,500 a year he spends on N1 rent increase notices and put it toward maintenance instead.
His math had a flaw. Not all 20 units get a notice in a given year. Only units where the tenant has been there 12+ months are eligible for an increase. When a unit turns over, you reset to market rent, no notice needed. So his real cost is a fraction of what he estimated.
Now look at one unit. The 2026 Ontario guideline is 2.1%. On a $2,000 rent, thatâs $504 a year. One notice protects that, every year.
And hereâs the part most landlords miss: in Ontario, an increase you skip is gone forever. You canât catch up next year. The only reset is a new tenancy.
That rent is your NOI. At a 5 cap, every $1,000 of annual rent equals $20,000 of building value. Skip five years on one $2,000 unit and youâve left nearly $8,000 on the table, compounding.
So itâs not $2,500 versus maintenance. Itâs a few hundred in notices protecting your rent roll and your buildingâs value.
Whatâs the most expensive âsavingâ youâve seen a landlord make? đ
đŠ Want a pro to look at your rent roll before year end? DM me or tap the link in bio for a free Rent & ROI Audit.