What Tenants Should Do If Rent Is Increased After a Complaint in Yukon

If you’re a tenant in Yukon and notice your landlord increases your rent soon after you make a complaint—about repairs, safety, or another issue—it’s important to know your rights. Yukon’s residential tenancy laws protect tenants from unlawful rent increases and retaliation from landlords. This article explains what to do if your rent is raised after a complaint, the forms you may need, and how the Yukon Residential Tenancies Office can help.

Can a Landlord Raise Rent After a Complaint in Yukon?

Landlords in Yukon are required to follow strict rules for raising rent. These rules exist to protect tenants from unfair treatment, especially after they exercise their legal rights (for example, making a complaint about maintenance or health and safety issues).

• The landlord must provide written notice at least 3 months in advance using the correct official form.
• Rent may only be increased once every 12 months for a given tenant.
• Retaliation—such as increasing the rent because you made a complaint—is prohibited by the Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (Yukon)^[1].

If you suspect the increase is retaliation, it’s crucial to document the situation and understand the next steps.

Steps to Take if Your Rent Is Raised After a Complaint

Here’s what to do if you believe your rent was increased after you made a formal or informal complaint to your landlord:

• Review the Rent Increase Notice: Ensure it follows Yukon’s rules—proper form, at least three months’ notice, and only once every 12 months.
• Document Your Complaint: Keep a record of when and how you complained (emails, letters, phone logs, etc.).
• Compare Timelines: Was the rent increase notice given shortly after your complaint? The timing may suggest retaliation.

Filing a Dispute with the Yukon Residential Tenancies Office

Yukon’s Residential Tenancies Office (RTO) handles tenancy disputes, including those involving rent increases and alleged retaliation. If you believe your landlord did not follow the law or retaliated, you can apply for dispute resolution.

• Form Name: Application for Dispute Resolution (Form 8)
• When to Use: If you want to challenge a rent increase you believe was issued in response to a complaint, use this form.
• Where to Get It: Application for Dispute Resolution (Form 8) – Yukon.ca
• How to Use: Fill out the form with details of your tenancy, the complaint, and why you believe the rent increase is retaliatory. Attach any supporting documents (rent increase notice, your complaint, correspondence).

You have 30 days from receiving the rent increase notice to file a dispute^[2].

What the Tribunal Will Consider

The Residential Tenancies Office may look at:

• The timing of your complaint and the rent increase
• Whether the landlord followed all legal requirements
• Any evidence of retaliation or improper motive

Decisions are based on Yukon’s tenancy laws, designed to protect tenants from unfair treatment. For more on your province’s rights, see Tenant Rights and Landlord Rights in Yukon.

Other Tenant Protections in Yukon

Besides rules about rent increases, Yukon law also protects tenants from eviction without proper cause and provides a clear process for resolving maintenance, health and safety, or other issues. If your complaint was about living conditions, review Health and Safety Issues Every Tenant Should Know When Renting.

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Related Resources and Guides

• Want more info about proper rent increase procedures? Visit Understanding Rent Increases: What Tenants Need to Know.
• For help handling complaints or disputes, see How to Handle Complaints in Your Rental: A Tenant’s Guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can my landlord raise my rent right after I file a repair complaint?
   Not legally in retaliation. Yukon law prohibits landlords from increasing rent as punishment for you asserting your rights, such as making a complaint. If this happens, you can file a dispute.
2. How much notice must my landlord give for a rent increase in Yukon?
   Your landlord must give at least three months’ written notice using the proper form, and can only increase rent once every 12 months.
3. What form do I use to challenge an unfair rent increase?
   Use the Application for Dispute Resolution (Form 8). File it with Yukon’s Residential Tenancies Office within 30 days of receiving the notice.
4. What happens if the rent increase is found to be retaliatory?
   The Residential Tenancies Office can set aside the increase, and your landlord may be ordered to comply with the law.
5. Where can I get help if I’m unsure what to do?
   Contact the Yukon Residential Tenancies Office for guidance or see tenant advocacy resources below.

Key Takeaways for Yukon Tenants

• Your landlord cannot legally increase rent in response to a complaint.
• You must receive at least three months’ notice on the proper form, and only one increase per year is allowed.
• If you suspect retaliation, use Form 8 and contact the Residential Tenancies Office within 30 days.

By knowing your rights and acting promptly, you can protect yourself from unfair rent increases or retaliation.

Need Help? Resources for Tenants

• Yukon Residential Tenancies Office – Guides, forms, and dispute resolution (call 867-667-5944 or email residential.tenancies@yukon.ca)
• Yukon Government – Renting Information
• See Tenant Rights and Landlord Rights in Yukon for a full list of tenant and landlord responsibilities

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1. See Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (Yukon)
2. Residential Tenancies Office, Yukon: Official Yukon RTO Site

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