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Rent cap
Landlords are not permitted to increase rent by more than 3% every 12 months. Under the Residential Tenancies Act, landlords must provide tenants with six months' written notice before implementing a rent increase. Rent can only be increased once every 12 months and not within the first 12 months of the tenancy.
Options for tenants who receive notice of a rent increase
When a tenant receives notice of a rent increase, they have the choice of accepting the increase, ending their tenancy or requesting a review through the Tenant and Landlord Relations Office. To request a review, they must apply within 60 days of receiving the notice.
Request a review by completing an application for assistance with the Tenant and Landlord Relations Office. A copy of the written notice of rent increase must be included in the application. There is no fee to apply.
Above guideline increases
Landlords must apply for permission to serve a notice of rent increase above the 3% cap, up to 9%, for justified capital expenditures for renovations of units. Landlords must provide supporting evidence when applying. The Tenant and Landlord Relations Office will assess the application and decide.
Protection against retaliatory rent increases
If a tenant suspects the landlord has served a notice of rent increase because the tenant filed a complaint against them, they may contact the Tenant and Landlord Relations Office which offers protection against retaliatory rent increases under the Residential Tenancies Act.
Ending a tenancy
If a tenant decides to end their tenancy after receiving the notice of increase, they must provide the landlord with written notice. This notice must include the address of the rental unit, the date the tenancy will terminate, and the tenant's signature. The required notice period depends on the lease term.
- For a fixed-term, year-to-year, or month-to-month lease, the tenant must provide at least one month’s written notice before the rent increase starts.
- For a week-to-week lease, the tenant must provide at least one week’s written notice before the rent increase starts.
For example, in a month-to-month tenancy, if the rent increase is set to begin on August 1, the tenant must provide one month's notice on or before July 1 to terminate the tenancy effective July 31.
How to provide notice of a rent increase
The notice of rent increase must be a separate document from any other notice or receipt given to the tenant by the landlord and include:
- the name of the tenant
- the address of the rental unit
- the current amount of rent and the amount of rent after the increase takes effect
- the date when the increase is to take effect
- it must be dated and signed by the landlord or an agent or representative of the landlord
Additional requirements for mobile home site tenants:
The landlord must increase the rent by the same percentage for each site in the mobile home community, or in the same area of the mobile home community.
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.