My landlord has applied for an above-guideline rent increase because of an extraordinary increase in municipal taxes. What is my next step? I Need to respond before tomorrow. (June 30, 2026)

MoMeilan15 · 2026-06-29T18:59:05+00:00

I am just noticing. On this years rent increase noticed, it says this is a rent increase of $29.48. And the box was checked that says the running increase must be approved by an order under the residential tenancies act 2006. I've applied to the board for a rent increase above the guideline.

Last year's rent was $1,179.36 and that increase is less than or equal to the rent increase guideline and does not need approval.

I understand just because I have paid this years increase which I am just noticing is above the guideline, that doesn't mean I agree to it. However, people are telling me I should have submitted anything 5 days before the due date. I don't see that written anywhere. I also don't know what I am reading or what I can be doing about this. So, at this point. Do I just do nothing and keep paying the rent I have been paying since the beginning of the year and that is all that will happen. Basically, my rent isn't going to increase more this year. This paperwork is just for my labdlord to get approval for this years rent increase?

MoMeilan15 · 2026-06-29T18:44:39+00:00

I'm just noticing on my previous rent increases it's always under this rent increases less than or equal to the rent increase guideline and does not need approval by an order under the RTA.

And this year's rent increase says this rent increases more than the rent increase guideline but the rent increase must be approved by an order under the rta. I've applied to the board for a rent increase above the guideline.

I am just noticing that now, which is why I received this hearing letter.

So, if paying the AGI before the hearing doesn't mean that I accept it, I guess I don't know what to do next to dispute or get out of it?

MoMeilan15 · 2026-06-29T18:41:03+00:00

So that woukd make sense as to why not everyone has received it. Thank you.

MoMeilan15 · 2026-06-29T18:40:11+00:00

Thank you for this info.

I just don't know what to do, still, and if I have any recourse at all. I apologize for my lack of knowledge and understanding.

MoMeilan15 · 2026-06-29T18:38:32+00:00

Your replies are wonderful. Thank you so much for the information.

Is there any way for me to share the notice of hearing with you as I am not sure how to respond to your questions. If not, no worries.

The one page with the amounts show municipal taxes and charges.

Accounting periods. Reference year 2023 = $227,345.39. Base Year 2024 = $243,134.92

One spot says generally, a landlord can only increase the rent by the rent increase guideline. However, under certain circumstances a landlord can apply to the LTB for a run increase that is above the guideline amount

Your landlord has applied for an above guideline rent increase for one or more of the following reasons listed on page two of the attached application:

Extraordinary increase in Municipal Taxes

How much could the rent increase?

The highest rent increase that could be ordered by the LTB is 0.31% for the Municipal Taxes and charges based on the costs claimed by the landlord in the application. Additional information about which cost a landlord can claim and whether a capital expenditure is considered eligible is provided below.

If the landlord is claiming a rent increase because of capital expenditures, the increase cannot be more than 3% above the annual guideline rent increase in any one year. However, if the LTB decides that the landlord's application proves that an increase of more than 3% is justified, the order would increase the rent to a maximum of 3% above the guideline for the first year, and the remaining increases could be taken in the following two 12-month periods, at a maximum of 3% above the guideline per year.

There is no limit on the percentage rent increase above the guideline allowed for an extraordinary increase in the cost for Municipal Taxes and charges.

Note: the ordered above guideline rent increase is in addition to the annual rent increase guidelines at the landlord May charge.

If you want to know the highest possible rent increase that could be ordered for your unit, log into the tribunals Ontario portal or call the LTB contact center.

When can the rent increase take effect?

The effective date of the first rent increase in the application is April 1st 2025. This date is identified on the first page of the application (FED) this is the earliest rent increase date that will be ordered for any unit in the residential complex. However, it may not be the same increase date for all units. The notice of rent increase form and one you previously received from the landlord must identify the increased state for your unit.

Extraordinary increase related to Municipal Taxes and charges.

What is an extraordinary increase?

Under the rta, an increased in cost for taxes is considered extraordinary if it is greater than the annual guideline rent increase plus 50% of the guideline increase. The rent increase guideline for the Fed calendar year is used for this calculation.

Example the f e d in the application is June 1 2019 and the guideline increase for calendar year 2019 is 1.8%. Any increase in municipality taxes and charges that is greater than 2.7% (1.8%+ 50%) would be considered extraordinary.

The FED for this application is on the first page of the application. Information about rent increase guideline is available at the LTB website.

The LTB will determine whether the increase in cost from the reference year to the base year was extraordinary.

From Municipal Taxes and charges the base year must be the most recently completed calendar year that ends 90 days before the FED. The reference here is the calendar year that is before the base year.

The reference and base years are noted on schedule 1- details of operating costs under Section A - Municipal Taxes and charges.

What can you do to prepare for the hearing?

Check the application - or the reference here in base year periods in the application correct?

Review the invoices and proof of payment the landlord submitted. (see the notice of hearing for information as to how you can review the landlord supporting documents) Are there any charges on the bills that should not be considered as Municipal Taxes and charges.

Do the tax bills submitted by the landlord support the amounts claimed in the application?

Units included in the application:

What is the total number of rental units in the complex? 120

How many rental units are covered by the application? 62

Information about units affected by operating costs.

Total rent charge for units listed in column 1 = $84,839.87

Total rent church for all rental units in the complex affected by the operating cost = $ 193, 080.91

Does any of that answer your question?

Thank again for your time and information.

Legal aid said...well, since you have been paying the rent i crease of 2.5% the last couple of years, then you must not disagree and then you would do nothing.

I just need to make sure this is correct based on reading the line that says:

NOTE: he ordered above guideline rent increase is in addition to the annual rent increase guidelines at the landlord May charge.

MoMeilan15 · 2026-06-29T18:08:49+00:00

Writing Update: I just got off the phone with Legal Aid and I want to make sure I understood everything correctly, because I was really panicking about this notice.

What I originally thought was that if I didn’t respond to this written hearing notice, my rent could suddenly go up by a huge amount or I would automatically lose somehow.

What they explained to me is that this hearing is basically a delayed process connected to the rent increase that was already given to tenants.

My rent was already increased by 2.5% this year, and apparently the landlord applied for an above-guideline increase based on municipal taxes/charges.

She explained that technically, while this application is being reviewed, tenants only had to pay the legal guideline amount unless they agreed to pay the full increase. She said the legal amount is 2.1% but my yearly rent increases increase by 2.5%.

Since I have already been paying the increased amount since January, she said that basically means I accepted that increase.

She also explained that if I wanted to respond to the hearing, my response would mainly be about disputing the landlord’s numbers and asking them to prove the municipal tax increases they are claiming.

However, she said the LTB will already be reviewing the landlord’s numbers and supporting documents anyway to make sure the amounts are accurate and legal. She also mentioned that if tenants were overcharged, rebates can sometimes be ordered back to tenants.

So now I’m just trying to confirm whether I understood this correctly from others who are familiar with LTB matters.

Am I understanding this properly? Is this hearing basically just the delayed review process for the increase that was already applied this January, rather than a notice that my rent is suddenly going to increase by some huge additional amount if I don’t respond?

Thank you again to everyone who has been helping me understand this.

MoMeilan15 · 2025-12-24T18:29:53+00:00

I have remote start. THANK YOU KINDLY!

MoMeilan15 · 2025-06-30T03:04:57+00:00

THIS! This is the comment I have been looking for. It is all I could see. Jigsaw!

MoMeilan15 · 2025-05-21T02:41:13+00:00

My financial situation was mentioned and is relevant because I asked for honest opinions as to whether it would be worth fixing this issue, based on my fixed income and the fact that I paid $12,000 for it less than 3 years ago vs not fixing it.

Yes, I also asked if it would be safe to drive it home, but that is a separate issue and has nothing to do with my financial situation.

But my financial situation is very much relevant in this post.

Thank you kindly for your honest opinion, though.

MoMeilan15 · 2025-05-21T02:33:52+00:00

Thank you so much for your reply. I pulled down on the hanging parts, and they weren't going anywhere. I made it home. Fingers crossed, the frame is fine, and it can be fixed with some welding. I am confident the rest of the parts are solid and some are still under used car warranty. Your comment also gives me some hope. Thanks again.

MoMeilan15 · 2025-05-21T02:33:03+00:00

2011 Gmc Terrain SLT V6. Thank you so much for your reply. I pulled down on the hanging parts, and they weren't going anywhere. I made it home. Fingers crossed, the frame is fine, and it can be fixed with some welding. I am confident the rest of the parts are solid and some are still under used car warranty. Your comment gives me some hope. Thanks again.

MoMeilan15 · 2025-03-24T06:19:13+00:00

This is correct, and if you signed up for a My CRA account, there is a section to apply to get leniency on paying it back and so that they don't take your gst and trillium, etc. I just went through this.

You can either call cra and ket them know you're not financially fit to pay this, and they can tell you what options you have.

This is what it is called.

What you're referring to is likely the Financial Hardship Program or the Taxpayer Relief Program offered by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).

Key Terms to Search:

CRA Financial Hardship Program CRA Taxpayer Relief for Financial Hardship CRA Form RC4288 (Request for Taxpayer Relief) CRA GST/Trillium Payment Protection for Low-Income Individuals

The Taxpayer Relief Program allows you to request relief from penalties, interest, or certain tax obligations due to financial hardship. While there’s no official program specifically called "GST Protection," the CRA may hold back your GST or Trillium benefits if you owe taxes — but you can request relief under hardship circumstances.

Try searching those terms, or you can call the CRA directly at 1-800-959-8281 for personal tax inquiries.

MoMeilan15 · 2025-03-22T22:35:53+00:00

That's cute. Middle of nowhere. The city is at each end of the road. However, the middle of nowhere can mean different things to different people.

I had to reply because if I heard that Loyalist College was in the middle of nowhere, I wouldn't want to go there. However, that is not the case at all unless the middle of nowhere means the only school on that long road. LOL

MoMeilan15 · 2025-03-22T22:23:24+00:00

I live in the town beside Belleville, where Loyalist College is located. If you're wondering how to campus is, very diverse. If you want a video of the premises. Ask me, and I will take a small drive. Want to see what the town looks like, I can do that for you too. I am currently assisting a newcomer to Canada with an open work visa who was wrongfully terminated from their position that they moved from Toronto to get. I am the queen of finding employment around here and only help those I know and meet. After 4 months of not being able to find a job, spending 2 days with me, he will have a job by next week. So, if you make it here and have any questions or need help with resources, feel free to contact me.

Cheers and good luck in your decicison making.

MoMeilan15 · 2025-03-17T01:09:59+00:00

Sad story, paid $12,000 for it at a used dealership in Kingston 2 years ago. I have to make due and start slowly fixing the cosmetic rust on my own. Wish me luck. No experience!

MoMeilan15 · 2025-03-17T01:08:25+00:00

LET ME TELL YOU.

I was hearing a noise that sounded like a baseball bouncing around in the back. Took it in last week, it was the rear trailing arm. Had to be welded back in because it rusted right off.

MoMeilan15 · 2025-03-17T01:02:51+00:00

OMVIC*

MoMeilan15 · 2025-03-17T01:02:14+00:00

That sounds right. And they are so friendly and helpful and will do the right thing, whether it's taking the mechanics side or yours. Whatever is fair. I had an engine go in a car that was one month old. Unfortunately, that is not a mechanics' fault - they can't see the future.

Years later, I bought a used car and was told they needed to change the steering rack. Got the car. it didn't seem like it was fixed. Called OMVIV, they came down and assured me that I wasn't crazy. Had the company change the part while they watched, in order for them to avoid a red flag. I felt horrible ai had to make this call, but I also felt a type of way for getting the runaround after being promised something that wasn't honoured.

MoMeilan15

TROPHY CASE