As rental availability drops and the cost to rent increases, the province is providing some relief for renters who are experiencing climbing rental costs.

New rules are now in effect when it comes to rent increases on residential properties.

The length of notice needed for rent increases for month-to-month leases has been doubled, and increases for fixed-term leases are now required to be included in the lease document.

These new rules come after a recommendation delivered in June from the Merriman-Pringle report of the Task Force on Housing Affordability.

With the new law, six months notice of a rent increase must be given for a month-to-month lease and there can not be more than 2 rent increases each year.

In the case of a fixed-term lease, any rent increases must now be specified in the lease document.