Manitoba changed its rent control rules in September 2026, and many Winnipeg landlords who thought their units were exempt no longer are. From January 1, 2027, a unit is only exempt from the rent increase guideline if its rent on December 31 of the previous year was $2,000 a month or more, up from $1,670. The 2027 guideline itself is 3.0%. For a small landlord already weighing whether to keep a rental, this changes the numbers. This article explains exactly what changed, who it affects, and how to think about holding versus selling.
What Changed in Manitoba’s Rent Control Rules?
The change came by regulation, not legislation. Manitoba Regulation 91/2026, registered and in force on September 3, 2026, replaced the indexed exemption amount in the Residential Rent Regulation with a flat $2,000. The government’s news release that day called it a historic expansion of rent protection. According to the regulation, annual indexing of the threshold by the guideline resumes in 2028.
The Residential Tenancies Branch’s history shows how far the line moved. The exemption level was $1,640 for 2025 and $1,670 for 2026. Jumping to $2,000 pulls every unit renting between those numbers back under the guideline.
Which Rent Counts?
This is the detail most summaries miss. The regulation looks at the monthly rent payable on December 31 of the immediately preceding year. For a 2027 increase, that is the rent on December 31, 2026. If it was $2,000 or more, the unit is exempt. If it was $1,999.99 or less, the 3.0% guideline applies.
What About Notices Already Served?
The new rules apply to any increase taking effect on or after January 1, 2027, regardless of when the notice was given. If you served a notice this summer raising a $1,800 unit by 8% for January, that increase is now capped at the guideline unless you apply for and receive approval for more. Landlords should check every notice already served against the new threshold.
What Are the Rent Increase Guidelines?
According to the Branch’s guideline history, the annual guideline was 1.7% for 2025, 1.8% for 2026 and 3.0% for 2027. Increases require three months’ written notice on the approved form and can happen only once every 12 months. For a January 1 increase, the tenant must receive notice by September 30. Notice received even one day late is not valid. Exempt units still need the same three months’ notice.
Landlords whose costs rise faster than the guideline can apply for an above-guideline increase. The Branch’s guidebook says the costs must already have been incurred, capital costs are spread over several years, and the application covers all non-exempt units in the complex.
What Exemptions Still Exist?
- New buildings. A building first occupied after March 7, 2005 is exempt from rent regulation for 20 years. That means the first of those buildings have already reached the end of their exemption, and more come off every year.
- Rehabilitation schemes. A landlord who invests heavily in a unit can apply for a temporary exemption, from two years at $19,000 to $22,999.99 per unit up to five years at $41,000 or more. The Branch must approve the scheme before any work starts. Renovating first and applying after does not qualify.
- Units at or above $2,000. Rent on December 31 of the previous year of $2,000 or more.
What Happens When a Unit Turns Over?
The Branch’s Notice to New Tenant rules differ by building size. In a building with three or fewer units, the landlord can set a new tenant’s rent freely but must give the tenant the Notice to New Tenant form before charging it. In a building with four or more units, the new rent is capped at the average rent of comparable units, and the tenant has 30 days to ask the Branch to review it. In both cases a copy goes to the Branch within 14 days. Without the form, the increase is not allowed and can be rolled back with a refund.
For owners of houses, duplexes and triplexes, this is the most useful rule in the regulation. A vacancy lets you reset rent to market, provided the paperwork is done properly.
Is More Change Coming?
Possibly. Bill 13, The Residential Tenancies Amendment Act, was introduced in March 2026. Its text would require landlords to file details of each rental unit with the Branch, require rent regulation to be reviewed every five years, and double the maximum administrative penalty to $10,000. As of this writing the bill had not received royal assent. Watch it if you own several units.
Should You Keep or Sell Your Rental?
Rent control is rarely the only reason a landlord sells, but it changes the math on the reasons that already exist. Four questions help.
- Is your rent between $1,670 and $2,000? If so, your 2027 increase is now capped at 3.0%, and your income growth depends on turnover rather than annual increases.
- What does the property need? Heavy renovations can qualify for a rehabilitation exemption, but only with approval before work begins, and only at significant cost per unit.
- What are your real costs rising at? Pull last year’s property tax, insurance and repair bills and compare the increase against 3.0%. If your costs are rising faster than the guideline, the gap comes out of your return.
- How tired are you? Our piece on what to do when you’re tired of landlording in Winnipeg covers the non-financial side honestly.
If you decide to sell, remember that a sale does not end a tenancy. Winnipeg’s rental vacancy rate was 2.8% in CMHC’s October 2025 survey, under the 3.0% line, so ending a month-to-month tenancy for a buyer who will move in generally requires three months’ notice, and you owe the tenant reasonable moving costs up to $500. Our guides to selling a duplex or rental with tenants in Winnipeg and selling a rental property in Winnipeg walk through the process.
What Winnipeg homeowners say about working with us:
Investor buyers will price the new rules in. A tenanted unit renting at $1,850 with a 3.0% cap is worth less to an investor than the same unit exempt at $2,050. That is worth knowing before you set a price, and before you decide whether to sell tenanted or wait for a vacancy. The tax side matters too, because rentals do not qualify for the principal residence exemption. See capital gains tax when selling a house in Manitoba. If you want a firm number for the property as it stands, tenants included, you can request a no-obligation cash offer.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Rent regulation changes often. Confirm current rules with the Manitoba Residential Tenancies Branch and speak with a Manitoba lawyer before serving notices or selling a tenanted property.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the rent increase guideline in Manitoba for 2027?
The 2027 rent increase guideline is 3.0%, according to the Manitoba Residential Tenancies Branch. It was 1.8% for 2026 and 1.7% for 2025. Increases need three months’ written notice and can happen only once every 12 months, and units renting at $2,000 or more are exempt.
What is the rent control exemption threshold in Manitoba?
From January 1, 2027, a unit is exempt only if its monthly rent on December 31 of the previous year was $2,000 or more. The threshold was $1,670 for 2026. The change came in Manitoba Regulation 91/2026, in force September 3, 2026.
Does the new threshold apply to rent increase notices already given?
Yes. The new rules apply to any increase taking effect on or after January 1, 2027, regardless of when notice was given. A unit renting under $2,000 on December 31, 2026 is limited to the 3.0% guideline unless an above-guideline increase is approved.
Can I raise the rent for a new tenant in Manitoba?
In buildings with three or fewer units, yes, but you must give the new tenant the Notice to New Tenant form first and file a copy with the Branch within 14 days. In buildings with four or more units, new rent is capped at the average of comparable units.
Does selling my rental end the tenancy?
No. The tenancy continues with the new owner on the same terms. It can only be ended for a sale if the buyer or a close family member will live there, the sale is final, and proper notice is given. You also owe reasonable moving costs up to $500.
Written by Renz Javing, owner of We Buy Houses Winnipeg, a BBB-accredited local cash home buyer with a 4.8-star rating from 85 Google reviews.
