Above Guideline Increase (AGI)
Learn about AGIs (above guideline increases) in Canadian rental law — what they are, when they apply, and tenant protections.
July 28, 2025
What is an Above Guideline Increase (AGI)?
An AGI, or above guideline increase, is a rent increase above the standard annual guideline that landlords can apply for in specific circumstances.
Why AGIs Matter in Real Estate
In Canadian rental law, AGIs allow landlords to recover costs from extraordinary expenses or investments while protecting tenants from arbitrary rent increases.
Common reasons for AGIs:
- Major capital improvements (e.g., new roofs, HVAC)
- Significant increases in taxes or utilities
- Enhanced security services
Understanding AGIs helps landlords and tenants know when such increases are valid and how they are regulated.
Example of an AGI in Action
The landlord applied for an AGI after completing extensive plumbing and electrical upgrades to the building.
Key Takeaways
- Rent increase above annual guideline
- Must be approved by landlord-tenant boards
- Only permitted for qualifying costs
- Tenants can dispute unsupported AGIs
- Ensures fair cost recovery for landlords
Average and median describe different aspects of the same month’s transactions. Both are affected by the mix of homes sold.
Category averages compare different homes and locations; the gaps are not estimates of the cost to upgrade an otherwise identical property.
The five categories shown account for 5,000 of the board’s 5,057 sales. The remaining 57 transactions were in other housing categories.
Monthly observations are not seasonally adjusted. Active listings count properties available at month-end; they are not construction inventory.
Average and median prices share one dollar axis. These unadjusted transaction measures do not control for changes in the homes sold.
TRREB’s 416/905 categories compare the apartments sold in each area. The difference does not isolate a location premium for equivalent units.
Highlights from the Delta Golf & Country Club listing brochure. (Colliers)
5680 Oak Street in Vancouver and its surrounding context. (MCMP Architects)
Ground-level renderings of the tower proposed for 5680 Oak Street in Vancouver. (MCMP Architects)
