NWT Rental Office: What Landlords Need to Know About Rent Increases

The NWT Rental Office, operating under the GNWT Department of Justice, is where rent increase disputes land when a tenant challenges your notice. Knowing how the office works — before you ever need it — is part of serving a defensible notice.

What the Rental Office Does

The Rental Office serves two functions. Its administrative staff answer questions, provide information about the Residential Tenancies Act, and distribute official forms. The Rental Officer acts as a specialized tribunal: investigating disputes, conducting hearings (by phone or in person), and issuing binding written orders.

Under Section 86(1) and (2) of the RTA, after the appeal period expires without an appeal, a Rental Officer's order or decision may be filed with the Supreme Court Clerk and then enforced in the same manner as a Supreme Court judgment.

The Forms Available (and the One That Is Missing)

The Rental Office publishes several official forms:

• Tenancy Agreement (updated May 15, 2025)
• Application to a Rental Officer — Landlord (revised March 10, 2026)
• Application to a Rental Officer — Tenant (revised May 28, 2026)
• Affidavit of Service Policy (updated April 14, 2025)

What the office does not publish is a standalone "Notice of Rent Increase" form. Landlords are told to give written notice under Section 47 but must draft the document themselves. That is where most errors happen — omitting the effective date, skipping the Section 47(4) termination right statement, or failing to show the 12-month rule is satisfied.

Filing Fees

If a dispute reaches the formal application stage:

Fees are paid through GNWT Financial Shared Services at offices in Yellowknife, Hay River, Inuvik, Fort Simpson, Fort Smith, and Norman Wells. Payment options include in-person (cash, debit, credit), mail (cheque payable to GNWT), phone credit card, or online-banking e-transfer after contacting a regional Financial Shared Services office; do not send an e-transfer directly to the Rental Office.

How a Dispute Proceeds

1. A paper application is delivered or mailed in triplicate with supporting documents. The current application form also allows secure electronic submission through the GNWT FileDrop link.
2. The Rental Office reviews the filing and schedules the hearing. Applications normally must be made within six months of the alleged breach; the Rental Officer may extend that time if doing so would not be unfair.
3. The Rental Office provides the Notice of Attendance and hearing information. The applicant must serve the filed application package on the other party at least five business days before the hearing, unless the Rental Officer sets a different period.
4. The hearing is conducted by phone or in person. Both sides present testimony and documents.
5. The Rental Officer issues a binding written order with reasons. Remedies can include invalidating the increase, ordering a rent refund, or requiring compliance.

Contact Information

NWT Rental Office Phone: 1-867-767-9254 (local) / 1-800-661-0760 (toll-free) Email: [email protected] Mailing: PO Box 1920, Yellowknife, NT X1A 2P4

The office assists both landlords and tenants. The GNWT Legal Aid Commission's Outreach Lawyer offers individuals up to an hour of free confidential advice on one subject, including tenant rights, family law, and other listed matters; private landlords should seek independent legal counsel for case-specific advice.

Build Your Notice Before You Need the Office

A well-drafted notice with correct dates and proper service documentation is your best defence against a Rental Office challenge. The Northwest Territories Rent Increase Guide includes a notice template and service log structured to meet the Rental Office's evidentiary standards.

See more Northwest Territories guides →