What breaches can we enforce

The RTB can deal with breaches of rental law by landlords in three ways. We can: 

• Issue a fixed payment notice  
• Take a criminal prosecution case 
• Investigate and impose a civil sanction

These powers apply to the specific breaches of rental law listed below only.  

Breaches related to tenancy registration 

1. Failure to register a tenancy

Landlords must register a tenancy with the RTB within one month of the tenancy start date and then every year on the anniversary of the start date for as long as the tenancy continues to exist. You can click here to check if a tenancy is registered. 

The RTB can also pursue a landlord for failure to register a past tenancy that has ended. 

2. Failure to update tenancy details 

Landlords must update their tenancy registration within one month of a change in rent with any changes to tenancy details, such as: 

• Changes to rent 
• Changes in tenant or landlord details 

Breaches related to rent 

3. Failure to give rent setting information at start of tenancy 

Landlords must give a rent setting notice to their tenant at the start of a tenancy.  They must also submit the notice to the RTB within one month of the tenancy start date. The notice must include details of: 

• Last rent set (if any for a previous tenancy in the property) 
• How the new rent was calculated in line with national rent control rules 
• Rents paid for three comparable properties from the RTB Rent Register 

Learn more about the information a landlord must include in a rent setting notice.  

4. Setting rent above the legal limit 

Rent increases must follow limits set under rental law. For a rent setting or rent review after 1 March 2026, private and student specific accommodation tenancies are subject to national rent control rules. Read the rules on setting and reviewing private rents and SSA rents. 

Before 1 March 2026, annual rent increases were limited to 2% or the rate of inflation if lower under Rent Pressure Zone (RPZ) rules. The RTB can still take enforcement action for breaches of RPZ rules that happened before 1 March 2026. 

5. Failure to notify the RTB of a rent exemption 

Landlords claiming an exemption from rent increase restrictions must serve a notice of exemption to their tenant and the RTB within one month of the date they set the rent. 

6. Incorrectly claiming a rent exemption  

Exemptions from rent increase restrictions must comply with legal requirements. Landlords cannot falsely claim an exemption from national rent control or RPZ rules. Breaches include: 

• Falsely claiming substantial renovations to justify a rent increase. 
• Incorrectly stating no tenancy existed in the property for two years before a new tenancy started (or one year for a protected structure). 
• Providing an incorrect reason that the last tenancy ended to justify re-setting to market rent for a new tenancy after 1 March 2026.

7. Failure to provide a rent review notice correctly

Landlords must give their tenant a notice of rent review at least 90 days before a new rent takes effect. They must also give the RTB a copy of the notice within 7 days of when the tenant receives it.  

The notice of rent review is a mandatory form to explain how the rent was set. Learn more in our guide to rent review notices.  

Breaches related to ending a tenancy

8. Giving false or misleading reasons for ending a tenancy 

A landlord cannot issue a Notice of Termination that gives a false or misleading reason for ending a tenancy. 

9. Failure to offer a tenancy back to a previous tenant 

The landlord must offer the tenancy back to the former tenant if: 

• The original reason for termination is no longer applicable. 
• The property is available for re-letting within the timeframes set out below. 

Re-letting timeframes 

• The landlord planned to sell but did not do so within 9 months after the tenancy end date stated in the Notice of Termination or the date the tenants left (whichever came later). 
• The landlord or a family member moved in but left within 12 months after the tenancy end date stated in the Notice of Termination or the date the tenants left (whichever came later). 
• Renovation work on the property is now completed. 
• The landlord changed the use of the property, but it is now available for letting again within 12 months after the tenancy end date stated in the Notice of termination or the date the tenants left (whichever came later). 

Breaches related to deposits and advance payments   

10. Requesting a payment of more than two month’s rent to secure a tenancy 

Landlords cannot request a deposit of more than one month’s rent. Landlords also cannot request an advance payment equivalent to more than one month’s rent to secure a tenancy. This includes any request for advance payment of utilities or other service charges. 

Breaches related to Student Specific Accommodation

11. Requiring a student to sign a longer lease

Landlords of Student Specific Accommodation (SSA) cannot force students to sign a lease longer than 41 weeks unless requested by the student. 

How to report a breach

You can report a landlord to the RTB for certain breaches of rental law outlined above. Find out how to report a landlord.