Maximum Allowable Rent Increase
The landlord may only increase the rent 12 months after the date that the existing rent was established with the existing tenant(s) or 12 months after the date of the last legal rent increase, even if there is a new landlord or a new tenant by way of an assignment.
The maximum allowable rent increase is defined as the 12-month average percent change in the all-items Consumer Price Index for British Columbia ending in the July that is most recently available for the calendar year for which a rent increase takes effect.
For example, if a rent increase takes effect in 2021, the maximum allowable rent increase is the 12-month average percent change in the all-items Consumer Price Index for British Columbia ending in July 2020.
BC Stats publishes the 12-month average percent change in the all-items Consumer Price Index for British Columbia:
The limits for residential tenancies and manufactured home park tenancies are different.
- For residential tenancies, the standard allowable rent increase for 2021 is 1.4%
Previous Maximum Rent Increases
The following table outlines the maximum allowable rent increases for the past few years:
| Year | Maximum Allowable Rent Increase |
| 2020 | 2.6% |
| 2019 | 2.5% |
| 2018 | 4.0% |
| 2017 | 3.7% |
| 2016 | 2.9% |
| 2015 | 2.5% |
| 2014 | 2.2% |
| 2013 | 3.8% |
| 2012 | 4.3% |
| 2011 | 2.3% |
| 2010 | 3.2% |
Landlords may not retroactively apply a rent increase. If a landlord did not issue a rent increase in the previous year, or issued a rent increase that was less than the amount allowed by law, they cannot later apply a rent increase to catch up.
Ref: British Columbia government official website
