Manitoba Rent Status Report: How to Check a Unit's Rent History

Buying a tenanted property in Manitoba without checking the rent history can leave a purchaser exposed. Under Section 52(2) of the Act, a new landlord is liable for excess rent paid in the two years before the change in landlord.

What a Rent Status Report Shows

The Residential Tenancies Branch's Rent Status Report summarizes information recorded for a residential complex. The application form says it includes:

• Current file activity for the complex
• Records of rent increase notices filed with the Branch
• A history of registered rents

Manitoba does not operate a public online rent registry. The only way to get this data is a formal application to the RTB.

How to Apply

Submit the Rent Status Report application and the registered owner's written authorization to the RTB. Both forms are available on the Branch's Rent Status Report page.

Filing fees:

• $157.50 for residential complexes with 4 or fewer units
• $315 for complexes with 5 to 49 units
• $420 for complexes with 50 or more units

Landlords and prospective buyers can apply, but the application must include written authorization from the registered owner. The report is typically used during property due diligence, before completing a purchase of a tenanted building.

Why It Matters for Buyers

Rent increase limits attach to the rental unit. When a building changes hands, the purchaser must respect the unit's existing rent and 12-month increase history; Section 52(2) also makes the new landlord liable for excess rent the tenant paid in the two years before the change.

If the previous owner raised rent without a valid notice, collected above the guideline on a covered unit, or skipped the three-month notice period, the lawful rent may be lower than the amount charged. A tenant is not liable for rent above the amount permitted by Part 9, and Section 52(2) makes the new landlord liable for excess rent the tenant paid in the two years before the change in landlord.

Limits of the Report

A rent status report is not a certificate of title or a legal guarantee. It reflects information recorded by the RTB. If a notice or other rent information was never filed or recorded, the report may not show it. The RTB can still investigate a rent complaint after the fact.

Landlords should treat the report as one piece of due diligence, not the final word. Cross-referencing it against the existing lease, the previous owner's records, and Form 2 disclosures gives a more complete picture.

When Existing Landlords Need One

A rent status report isn't just for buyers. Landlords who inherited a property through an estate transfer, or who lack documentation from a previous management company, should file for a report before issuing any new rent increase. It establishes a defensible baseline for the next Form 1A calculation.

The Manitoba Rent Increase Landlord's Guide includes a rent history audit checklist for both buyers and existing landlords — covering the documents to request, the Form 2 records to verify, and how to read an RTB rent status report.

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