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Overview
The landlord must make emergency repairs without delay. The Tenant and Landlord Relations Office considers emergency repairs the work required to ensure that a tenant has heat, water and electrical services. Landlords have the right to enter a tenant’s rental unit without notice in emergency situations.
Emergencies may include:
- fire
- flooding
- active destruction of the premises
- major leaks in pipes or roof
- disconnected, damaged or blocked water, sewer pipes or plumbing fixtures
- disconnection or issues with the primary heating system
- disconnection or issues with the electrical system
- damaged or defective locks, or an unauthorized lock change by landlord
- immediate (same or next day) threat of eviction by the landlord, especially when children are involved
In the case of an emergency, a Residential Tenancies Officer may work with others such as NB Power, the fire marshal, police or other authorities to help resolve the situation quickly.
Getting assistance from the Tenant and Landlord Relations Office
Call the Tenant and Landlord Relations Office at 1-888-762-8600 for assistance.
Alternatively, apply online or send printed or digital copies of completed forms to the Tenant and Landlord Relations Office by email to [email protected], by fax at 1-855-658-3096, by mail to PO Box 5001, Moncton, NB, E1C 8R3, or bring it to a Service New Brunswick service centre.
Responsibilities for general repairs and maintenance
The tenant is responsible for:
- maintaining the reasonable cleanliness of the rental unit and any items provided by the landlord
- repairing any damage they or their guests have caused to the premises within a reasonable amount of time
Reasonable wear and tear are not a tenant’s responsibility to repair or maintain. This refers to the natural wear that occurs from normal aging when the tenant has used the rental unit in a reasonable manner and not caused deliberate damage.
The landlord is responsible for:
- maintaining the rental unit in a good state of repair and fit to live in
- keeping all common areas in a clean and safe condition
- complying with all health, safety, housing and building standards and any other legal requirements relating to the rental unit
A landlord can only enter an occupied rental unit for repairs and maintenance between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., excluding Sundays and holidays, unless it is an emergency or at the tenant’s request.
If a tenant requests repairs
When a tenant asks in writing that a landlord complete repairs, the landlord may enter the rental unit without notice within two working days of receiving the request.
If the landlord does not complete the repairs within two working days, they must give the tenant at least 24 hours’ notice in writing before entering the unit to make the repairs.
Routine maintenance
When a landlord wants to perform routine maintenance or complete normal repairs, they must provide the tenant with a minimum of seven days' written notice.
If you have concerns with the amount of time it is taking for your landlord or tenant to complete your request, you may contact the Tenant and Landlord Relations Office for assistance in resolving the matter.