The rules at a glance
| Type of tenancy | How often | Written notice needed |
|---|---|---|
| Month to month | Once every 365 days | 3 full tenancy months |
| Week to week | Once every 365 days | 12 full tenancy weeks |
| Any other periodic tenancy | Once every 365 days | 90 days |
| Fixed-term lease | Not during the term | Set the new rent in the next lease, and only once 365 days have passed |
Source: Alberta.ca, During a tenancy and CPLEA, Rent increases.
What "3 full tenancy months" means
A tenancy month runs from the day rent is due to the day before it's due again. Most leases run from the 1st, so a tenancy month is a calendar month. The notice must reach the tenant before the first of those three months starts.
Rent is due on the 1st. You want the new rent to start on 1 March 2027. The three full months are December, January and February, so the tenant must have your notice by 30 November 2026.
If the notice is late, it doesn't work at all. You must serve a new notice, and a tenant who already paid the higher rent may be able to get the extra back.
What the notice must include
- It's in writing
- The date you wrote it
- The date the new rent starts
- Your signature (or the property manager's, signing for the landlord)
Stating the new amount isn't on the government's list, but always include it, along with the current amount. It saves a phone call and a dispute.
The 5-step checklist
- Find the last increase date. Look up when the tenancy started or when rent last went up. Add 365 days. The new rent can't start before that date.
- Check the tenancy type. Month to month, week to week, or a fixed-term lease. A fixed-term lease means waiting for the next lease.
- Count back the notice period. Three full tenancy months for monthly rent. Pick a start date that falls on a rent day.
- Write and sign the notice. Include today's date, the start date, the current rent, the new rent and your signature.
- Serve it and keep proof. Hand it over, or use another method the Residential Tenancies Act allows, and keep a record of the date and how you served it.
Let XenoBridge do the date maths
XenoBridge has rent-increase notices built around Alberta's Residential Tenancies Act. Each tenancy's start date and rent history sit in one place, the notice goes to the tenant from the platform, and you keep a record of when it was sent.
Common mistakes
- Counting 90 days instead of 3 full tenancy months on a monthly tenancy
- Raising rent at a lease renewal when the last increase was less than 365 days ago
- Sending the increase by text with no date or signature
- Forgetting to update the amount in autopay, so the tenant keeps paying the old rent
Questions landlords ask
Is there a limit on how much I can raise rent in Alberta?
No. Alberta has no rent control, so the amount is up to you. The limits are on how often (once every 365 days) and how much notice you give.
Can I raise rent in the middle of a one-year lease?
No. You can't raise rent during a fixed term. Set the new rent in the next lease, as long as 365 days have passed since the last increase or the start of the tenancy.
Does a rent increase on a lease renewal need 3 months' notice?
The written notice rule applies to periodic tenancies. For a new fixed-term lease, the new rent is set in the lease itself. The 365-day rule still applies.
What if I served the notice a few days late?
A late notice doesn't take effect. Serve a new notice with a later start date that gives the full notice period.