Paul Cappa (2017)

ANNOUNCER: I’m here with Paul Capa from Cohen Highley Lawyers. How does rent control work in London?

PAUL: Landlords can increase rent one time per year. The actual percentage they are allowed to increase the rent by is set annually by the province of Ontario. Currently (in 2017), the guideline rent increase is 1.5% and the maximum the increase can ever be is 2.5%.

ANNOUNCER: Now what if a landlord needs to make substantial capital investments into their property?

PAUL: If the landlord has legitimate capital spending requirements, say a new roof or furnace, the landlord can increase the rent by a maximum of 9% above the guideline provided they follow the process through the landlord and tenant for it.

ANNOUNCER: So, renters can have a 9% increase tacked onto their current rent for valid capital costs all at once?

PAUL: No, the capital cost increase can be faced in over three years with a maximum increase of 3% per year.