Tenants in market housing units in N.W.T. will receive a 90-day notice of rent increase, as of May 1. On Wednesday this week, N.W.T. Housing announced that increased rental rates for Market Rental Units come into effect in August 2025.
The organization said that since the introduction of the market housing rent scale in 2012, rental rates have not changed but the cost of operating, utilities and maintaining units, has increased “dramatically” over the last 13 years.
N.W.T. Housing said they want to align rental rates with current market conditions and account for current operating costs. The organization used CMHC’s annual report and a scan of market rental rates to update the rent scale.
“The updated rates are based on the average market rental rates from this report, with a reduction adjustment of 10 per cent to ensure they are more affordable than average,” said N.W.T. Housing.
The market housing units are occupied by critical workers like RCMP, nurses, teachers who live in communities with limited housing options.
“These homes are for people residing in communities with limited housing options.,” N.W.T. Housing staff.
The Market Housing Program is designed to make more housing options available to people working outside the regional centres of Hay River, Inuvik, Fort Simpson, Fort Smith and Yellowknife.
Market housing rental units are owned and leased by Housing NWT and are overseen by the community’s Local Housing Organization (LHO).
N.W.T. Housing staff assert that rental increase is needed because rental revenue is “crucial” for program funding to “maintain the quality and sustainability” of the Market Housing Program.
“These adjustments are a responsible step to support the development of housing market capacity and ensuring the long-term sustainability of our market housing program, allowing us to continue offering quality homes for those who need them most,” Minister Lucy Kuptana, Minister Responsible for Housing NWT, said in the announcement on May 7.
Jeanne Gard, NWT Housing communications manager, told True North FM that there are no changes in rental rates for public housing units; the rent increases will apply to market rental units only.
“The rent scale was introduced on July 1, 2012 and has had no increases since then while the cost of operating and maintaining units has increased dramatically over the last 13 years.
Notices are currently being sent to tenants in market housing units by May 1st outlining a 90-day notice of rent increase,” said Gard.
The revised rates for market housing units ranges from $1,202 for a bachelor to $1,938 for a three-bedroom, in Yellowknife, Inuvik, Hay River, Fort Smith, Fort Simpson, Norman Wells, Dettah, Ndilǫ, Behchokǫ̀ , Gameti, Whati, Wekweètı̀, Fort Resolution, Enterprise, KFN, Kakisa, Fort Providence, Jean Marie River, Saamba Ke, Fort Liard, Nahanni Butte, Wrigley,Aklavik, Tsiigehtchic, Fort McPherson, Tuktoyaktuk, Ulukhaktok, Paulatuk, Sachs Harbour, Tulita, Colville Lake, Fort Good Hope, Deline, and Łutselk’e.
According to the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s data, in 2012 a bachelor apartment costed $1, 131 per month on average in N.W.T. and a three-bedroom apartment costed $1,841 per month.
A bachelor apartment, according to the revised rates in 2025, will cost $1202, which is a difference of about $70 per month or $840 per year.
A 3-bedroom according to the revised rates in 2025 will cost $1,938, which is a difference of about $100 per month or $1,200 per year.
G.N.W.T has not instituted a cap on how much rental rates can increase per year, and without that cap, increases of hundreds of dollars per month are possible.
Some parts of Canada have rent increase guidelines, like Ontario where in 2025 the rent increase guideline is a 2.5 per cent maximum increase per year.
Someone paying $1, 131 per month for rent there could see an increase of up to $28.28 per month or $339.36 per year. And a tenant paying $1,841 per month could see an increase of up to $46.03 per month or $552.36 per year.
Lisa Thurber, founder of the Tenants Association N.W.T., spoke with True North FM about some of the compounded challenges tenants are facing in N.W.T.
Thurber explained that she was notified last week by tenants in market rate N.W.T. Housing units who received notices of rental increases. Thurber said that tenants are receiving rental increases as much as about $300 to $700 dollars per month.
Thurber urged that it’s important for N.W.T. leadership to treat housing as a “human right”. Thurber said by treating rental revenues as a main priority, this approach treats housing more like a “commodity.” Thurber said this is a “concerning” move that could deepen the homelessness crisis and the education crisis as well, as teaching professionals may not be able to afford to live the territories if they cannot afford rent.
Thurber said that, especially for single parents, trying to make ends meet is a daily struggle. Thurber is concerned for the well-being and safety of the tenants who she advocates for.
True North FM is working on a follow-up story including a more in-depth discussion with Thurber and other parties who are involved in the issue.
True North FM reached out to N.W.T. Housing and other parties involved to hear more about the issue and ask how tenants will cope with what seems a dramatic increase on relatively short notice. We will share more information and insights when they are available.
Gard provided this table of revised rental rates for 34 communities (“Zones A, B,C”)
MARKET HOUSING PROGRAM – REVISED RENTAL RATES
| Zone A, B, and C | Adjusted Rates* (2025-2026) |
| Bachelor | 1,202 |
| 1 Bedroom | 1,437 |
| 2 Bedroom | 1,687 |
| 3 Bedroom | 1,938 |
| Zone A Communities (Yellowknife, Inuvik, Hay River, Fort Smith, Fort Simpson, Norman Wells)
Zone B Communities (Dettah, Ndilǫ, Behchokǫ̀ , Gameti, Whati, Wekweètı̀, Fort Resolution, Enterprise, KFN, Kakisa, Fort Providence, Jean Marie River, Saamba Ke, Fort Liard, Nahanni Butte, Wrigley) Zone C Communities (Aklavik, Tsiigehtchic, Fort McPherson, Tuktoyaktuk, Ulukhaktok, Paulatuk, Sachs Harbour, Tulita, Colville Lake, Fort Good Hope, Deline, Łutselk’e) |
|
| *Monthly rents include Heating Fuel | |
