Residential Tenancies Act Campaign
Manitoba must pass legislation and update regulations to protect tenants and keep rental housing affordable
Current Calls to Action
The Problem
Rent increases cause a major loss of affordable rental housing in Manitoba, severely impacting low and moderate-income tenants. This is due to loopholes in the rent control system allowing unreasonable rent increases.
In 2022, the Residential Tenancies Branch permitted an average rent increase of 9.8 percent (an increase of $125 more a month), but documented increases have been as high as 30 percent, 50 percent and 126 percent in recent years. Tenants have no real protections against these increases, which can force them to move—with limited affordable alternatives—or cut back on critical expenses, like food and medicine, to pay rent.
The Solution and Our Progress
Government promises
During the 2023 election, Wab Kinew promised to “make life more affordable for renters” and “strengthen rent controls with legislation to protect renters from big rate hikes”. In fall 2024, the government proposed Bill 26, The Residential Tenancies Amendment Act, to limit above-guideline rent increases, but it did not pass.
Ahead of the 2025 Throne Speech, The Right to Housing Coalition urged the Premier to renew his commitment. The Speech pledged “new rules to stop unfair rent increases and strengthen renters’ rights”.
Proposed legislative changes
On March 12, 2026, the government proposed two sets of changes. While these are significant improvements, they fall short of ensuring fairness, stability, and affordability for the hundreds of thousands of Manitobans who rent.
The first set of changes was introduced through Bill 13, the Residential Tenancies Amendment Act. The Bill introduces several pro-renter measures, including:
- Stronger penalties for landlords who violate Residential Tenancies Branch (RTB) orders
- Expanded notice requirements for entering units
- Removing most orders against tenants from the public database after seven years—helping improve access to housing.
The second set of changes are two proposed updates to Rent Regulations:
Increasing the number of units protected by rent control
Currently units renting at $1,670/month or more are not protected by rent control (meaning rent can be raised to any amount each year). The government is proposing to increase this threshold to $2,000/month, effectively raising the number of units protected by rent control. (However, new units built in the last 20 years remain exempt).
Reducing the amount landlords can raise rents
Reducing by 50% the capital expenses landlords can claim for above-guideline increases (AGIs), effectively reducing the amount a landlord can raise the rent each year through an above-guideline rent increase (AGI) for a capital expense.
What is Missing
These changes will benefit thousands of renters, but significant gaps remain. Large and unpredictable rent increases are still permitted, threatening housing stability—especially for low- and fixed-income tenants.
Here is what is missing:
More changes are still needed
The Right to Housing Coalition would like to see the following changes to Bill 13 and the Rent Regulations:
- Limit above-guideline rent increases (AGIs) to no more than 9% and no more than 3% a year.
- Calculate rent increases for capital expenses over a 10 to 25-year amortization period, after which the rent increase should be reversed.
- Apply rent regulations to all units renting for more than $1,670 monthly.
- Replace the 20-year rent regulations exemption for buildings first occupied after 2005 with a 5-year exemption.
- Disallow rent discounts while ensuring renters keep existing discounts