BC Locks 2027 Rent Hike at 2.2%: The 12-Month Rule and One RTB-7 Mistake Could Cost Landlords a Full Year

The BC government has set the maximum allowable residential rent increase for 2027 at 2.2 percent, effective January 1, 2027, under the Residential Tenancy Act and Residential Tenancy Branch regulations. For landlords across Greater Vancouver, this means any annual rent hike on existing tenancies cannot exceed that ceiling, regardless of operating cost pressures. However, the 2.2 percent figure is only the starting point. To enforce the increase, landlords must also satisfy a 12-month gap from the date rent was first fixed or from the last lawful increase, serve the official RTB-7 'Notice of Rent Increase' form, and provide at least three full months of advance notice using a legally recognized delivery method. Any misstep in this sequence can invalidate the timeline.