The Government of Yukon is continuing to index residential rent increases in 2024 to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for Whitehorse. On May 15, 2024, the residential rent index will change from five per cent to 4.9 per cent. Effective this date, the maximum by which landlords will be able to raise rents will be 4.9 per cent, aligned with inflation.
The rent index came into effect under a new Regulation to the Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (RLTA) in 2023 as part of the Yukon government’s Confidence and Supply Agreement with the Yukon New Democratic Party.
In 2023, the Government of Yukon supported over 300 households with rent subsidies through the Canada-Yukon Housing Benefit program. In October 2023, the government provided a one-time subsidy of $338 per rental unit to landlords who were impacted by rent cap regulations for the 2023 calendar year.
The Government of Yukon is currently reviewing the Residential Landlord and Tenant Act through a series of public engagements and an online survey at Yukon.ca/engagements. Members of the public are invited to participate through February 29, 2024.
Rental increases are not mandatory and remain the responsibility of the landlord, who are responsible for operating within the Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, as they manage their units.
Stable and affordable housing is good for everyone. A rent index that aligns with the cost of living, helps renters and landlords plan for the future. We continue to work with landlords and tenants to improve and balance in our complex housing market. Our government is currently reviewing the Residential Landlord and Tenant Act and we encourage all Yukon landlords and tenants to participate in the ongoing engagement.
We're here to make life better and more affordable for Yukoners, that's why this CASA commitment was so important to us and why we'll continue to support and advocate for it to be permanent. Rent caps are the norm across Canada so that people don’t have to choose between rent and food at the end of the month.
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The annual CPI for Whitehorse, calculated by the Yukon Bureau of Statistics, is used to determine allowable rent increases.
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The CPI is a measure that reflects changes to the price of everyday items.
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The rent control index serves as a regulatory measure to help prevent excessive rent increases.
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If the CPI increases to five per cent or more, rent can only be increased to a maximum amount of five per cent (for example, in 2022, the CPI was 6.8 per cent so rent in 2023 could be increased by a maximum of five per cent).
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If the increase in the CPI is less than two per cent, rent can be increased by up to two per cent.
Laura Seeley
Cabinet Communications
867-332-7627
Laura.Seeley@yukon.ca
Bonnie Venton Ross
Communications, Community Services
867-332-5513
bonnie.ventonross@yukon.ca