Renters in Ste. Anne and across Manitoba will have stronger protection against big rent hikes starting January 1, 2027. The provincial government is raising the monthly rent exemption threshold from $1,670 to $2,000, which means rent control rules will now cover at least 2,000 additional rental units across the province.
Public Service Delivery Minister Mintu Sandhu called the change the largest expansion of rent control in decades. The amendment to the Residential Rent Regulation under the Residential Tenancies Act is meant to keep more homes affordable for tenants, including those in smaller communities like Ste. Anne, which is roughly 25 km east of Winnipeg.
Currently, rental units with monthly rent at or above the old threshold could be increased by any amount each year. Under the new rules, units renting for up to $2,000 a month will be covered by Manitoba’s annual rent increase guideline, which has been set at 3% for 2027, up from 1.8% in 2026. Rental units less than 20 years old remain exempt from rent control.
Landlords must give written notice of rent increases at least three months before they take effect. For a January 1 increase, tenants must be notified by September 30.
The Right to Housing Coalition welcomed the expansion but said it does not go far enough. The group wants the rent exemption threshold removed completely. Spokesperson Yutaka Dirks said the change is good for people who were not previously covered. The Professional Property Managers Association, which represents more than 70,000 suites, opposes the changes, warning they could discourage investment in rental housing.
