Residential Tenancies Branch Manitoba: RTB Forms, Contact, and Rent Increase Rules

The Residential Tenancies Branch provides Manitoba's rent increase forms and guidance, receives copies of most rent increase notices, and reviews applications for above-guideline increases. Landlords must meet the notice requirements that apply to their unit.

What the RTB Does

The Residential Tenancies Branch (RTB) is the administrative authority under the Residential Tenancies Act (C.C.S.M. c. R119). The Manitoba Residents Portal lists it under Public Service Delivery. It handles:

• Publishing the annual rent increase guideline (1.8% for 2026, 3.0% for 2027)
• Maintaining prescribed statutory forms (Form 1A, Form 2, Form 3, Form 4)
• Receiving rent increase notice copies required under Section 28, subject to the listed exceptions
• Investigating disputes and issuing binding administrative orders on lawful base rent
• Processing above-guideline increase applications
• Conducting rent status inquiries

The RTB is not a court. Its orders are enforced by filing them with the Court of King's Bench, where they carry the force of a court judgment.

RTB Contact Details

Winnipeg Main Office: 1700-155 Carlton Street, Winnipeg, MB R3C 3H8. Phone: (204) 945-2476. Toll-free: 1-800-782-8403. Email: [email protected].

Brandon Regional Office: 143-340 9th Street, Brandon, MB R7A 6C2. Phone: (204) 726-6230.

Thompson Regional Office: 113-59 Elizabeth Drive, Thompson, MB R8N 1X4. Phone: (204) 677-6496.

The RTB provides information, mediation, and adjudication but does not represent either party. RTB mediation officers do not give legal advice.

Key RTB Forms for Rent Increases

Form 1A (Notice of Rent Increase): the RTB's standard form. A landlord may use Form 1A or their own form containing the information required by the Act. Notice must be given at least three months before the increase takes effect. For notices covered by Section 28, a copy goes to the RTB within 14 days after giving the notice; if the unit is vacant, the deadline is 14 days after the start of the three-month notice period.

Form 2 (Notice to New Tenant): given when entering a tenancy agreement for a unit covered by Part 9. It shows previous, present, and proposed rent; where Section 132 applies, it also states the average rent for comparable units. A copy goes to the RTB within 14 days.

Form 3 (Application for Rent Increase Above Amount Permitted by Regulation): for above-guideline increases. File it no later than 14 days after the beginning of the three-month notice period. The fee is $150 for 19 or fewer units, $500 for 20 to 49 units, and $500 plus $5 per unit for 50 or more units, capped at $1,000.

Form 4 (Application for Increase in Charge for Laundry Facilities): used for an application about laundry charges. For a fixed-term renewal, the landlord gives a new tenancy agreement at least three months before the term ends; this is not Form 4.

All forms are free downloads from the Manitoba Residents Portal under Housing and Property.

The RTB's Role in Disputes

For an above-guideline increase, a tenant may file an objection under Section 124 at least 60 days before the effective date, on the statutory grounds listed there. The RTB says a tenant cannot object to a guideline increase solely because they disagree with it. Either party may appeal an RTB rent order to the Residential Tenancies Commission (RTC); there is no filing charge for this kind of appeal, and the usual deadline is 14 days after receiving the order. An appeal stays the order unless the Commission orders otherwise.

Why Landlords Get Tripped Up

The RTB enforces separate timelines. Section 28's copy-filing deadline applies to most notices; Section 25 requires at least three months' written notice for a rent increase to be valid. The two requirements are distinct.

The Manitoba Rent Increase Landlord's Guide maps every RTB deadline into a single compliance calendar, so landlords can track service dates, filing windows, and effective dates without juggling multiple government documents.

See more Manitoba guides →