How much notice for a rent increase in Alberta?

What a valid rent-increase notice must include

• In writing, verbal notice is not valid.
• Signed by the landlord or authorised property manager.
• States the new rent amount in dollars.
• States the effective date, the first day of a rental period at least 3 months after the notice is served.
• Delivered in a method allowed by the RTA (in person, by mail, by email if the lease permits).

Common mistakes that void a rent increase

Three-and-a-half months' notice instead of three full months counted from the right date; effective date that does not match the start of a rental period; notice within 12 months of a previous increase; email delivery when the lease does not authorise email. Any of these and the increase is unenforceable, the tenant can keep paying the old rate.

How much should you actually raise rent?

Calgary 2-bedroom rents rose roughly 5% in 2024 per CMHC. A common professional approach is to benchmark to current market every 12 months and increase by the smaller of (a) the market gap or (b) 4–6%, enough to keep up without triggering turnover. Pushing a 15–20% increase usually backfires: the tenant gives notice, the unit sits vacant for a month, and the landlord nets less than if they had raised 5%.