Dewling Strategies · Pro Planning Tool

Rent Setting & Affordability Planner Pro

Limited-time offerPro is free until November 30, 2026. Every feature included, no payment needed.

Test rent changes against three things at once: what your tenants can afford, what your programs and tenancy law allow, and what the buildings cost to run. Compare up to three rent scenarios, from holding rents to phasing in target rents, and see the revenue, the tenant impact, and the compliance flags for each. Then take the recommended scenario to the board as a report or a presentation.

Welcome. Tell us who you are to get started.

The Pro planner is free until November 30, 2026. We ask for a few details the first time you use it on this device, so we know who the tool is helping.

Your rent data never leaves your browser. The details above are sent to Dewling Strategies Inc. through Mailchimp, our email platform, to record who is using the planner and your acknowledgement. We will only send you emails if you tick the first box. Dewling Strategies Inc. · Spruce Grove, Alberta · greg@dewlingstrategies.ca · 780-907-4542

Rent review
Rent review

How the rent models and tests work

Rent models

Rent-geared-to-income (RGI). Rent is a set share of the household's income, with a minimum rent.
Income-tested. Rent is a share of income, but never less than the minimum and never more than the below-market ceiling.
Below market. Rent is a fixed share of market rent for the unit type, whatever the household earns.
Market. Rent is set at, or near, market rent for the unit type.

Tests

Affordability. A household is cost-burdened when rent is more than the share of income you set (30% by default) and severely burdened above 50%.
Compliance. Rents above a program maximum, increases above the guideline where it applies, and first increases with too little notice are flagged.
Operating result. Rent revenue plus other revenue and operating subsidy, less operating costs.
Phase-in. Under the target method, below-market and market rents move toward target by no more than the annual increase limit each year.

Privacy

Incomes are entered only as counts of households in each income band, never as individual records, so no tenant personal information enters the planner. Everything stays in this browser on this device unless you save a planner file.

Rent review report to the board

1. Organization and settings

Choose your province to load its rent rules into section 2. Growth rates are annual and apply across the five-year view.

Growth assumptions (% per year)

Other annual revenue

2. Rent rules

Preset for your province. Check each against your own program and operating agreements and change any that differ; your values print on the board report.

3. Units and households

One entry per group of similar units: the same building, bedroom type, and rent stream. Enter rents a month. Households are counts in each annual income band, never individual records.

The Excel template comes filled with your current unit groups and includes instructions. Uploading adds groups to the ones already here; select Start a blank rent review first to replace them.

4. Rent scenarios

Up to three scenarios, compared side by side. RGI and income-tested rents always follow incomes. The method sets how below-market and market rents move.

5. Results at a glance

What the rent review is saying

    6. Scenario comparison

    Year 1 and year 5 for each scenario. The scenario chosen in the toolbar drives the rest of the results.

    7. Revenue and operating result

    8. Rent roll

    Average monthly rent by unit group: today, in year 1, and the target. RGI and income-tested rents are averages across the households in the group.

    9. Tenant impact and affordability

    Households by change in monthly rent, year 1

    Rent as a share of income, by income band, year 1

    10. Compliance and rent checks

    On track meets the rules and good practice, Watch needs attention before notices go out, and Action should be fixed now.

    Save, share, and export

    Your work saves in this browser on this device. Use Save planner file to keep a copy you can open anywhere or share with a colleague.

    Taking a rent change to your board?

    Dewling Strategies helps housing providers design rent policies, phase in changes fairly, and explain them to boards, funders, and tenants. Email greg@dewlingstrategies.ca or call 780-907-4542.

    Book a virtual call

    This tool supports rent planning and board reporting for discussion only. Preset rent rules are a starting point; confirm them against your operating agreements, program rules, and the residential tenancy law that applies to your units before giving notice. It is not legal or financial advice.

    The Kestrel Valley Housing Society example is a fictitious teaching case; its buildings and figures do not represent any real organization. Your rent review is stored only in your own browser. Registration details you enter on first use are sent to Dewling Strategies through Mailchimp.

    The Rent Setting & Affordability Planner Pro is the property of Dewling Strategies Inc. and is provided free of charge until November 30, 2026, with its permission. Materials that use or are based on the planner or its results must credit Dewling Strategies Inc.

    © Dewling Strategies Inc. · Clarity. Strategy. Execution. · dewlingstrategies.ca