Rent bank

The rent bank grant is intended to provide financial help to renters experiencing a temporary and unplanned crisis that is threatening their housing stability. If you are facing eviction, you may be eligible.

The total grant provided to a household is determined on a case-by-case basis but cannot exceed two month’s rent for your unit, to a maximum of $2,750.

Eligible expenses include:

• security deposit for a new rental unit
• heat and/or power utility deposit for a new rental unit
• rent debt on your current residence
• overdue heat and power utilities that directly threaten your tenancy

The funds are sent directly to the landlord or impacted utility. For security deposits, funds are submitted to the Tenant and Landlord Relations Office and returned to Housing NB at the end of your tenancy.

To qualify you must:

• be a renter or looking for new rental housing
• be 19 years or older, or under 19 and an emancipated minor or in the Youth Engagement Services (YES) Program
• be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident of Canada, refugee claimant and/or have legal status to live and work in Canada
• be a resident of New Brunswick
• have an income of:
  • less than $50,500 annually for a household without children
  • less than $85,000 annually for a household with children
• have not received rent bank assistance for your household within the past 12 months and no more than two months’ rent (to a maximum of $2,750) within the past 24 months
• for rental arrears, not be a tenant of Housing NB public housing or Rural and Indigenous Housing, or in a unit subsidized through Housing NB’s Rent Supplement Program – Housing NB clients are encouraged to reach out to their housing officer to resolve any financial crises that may affect their tenancies in these units

You must also be able to show: 

• that your financial crisis is the result of a temporary, unexpected, and unavoidable life event(s) and places you at immediate risk of eviction or homelessness
• you consistently paid your rent and utilities in the past (prior to the crisis)
• your current or confirmed future income is sufficient to cover your rent and utilities (after arrears are addressed by the grant) while also meeting all your other household expenses
• the grant will resolve the arears that are putting the household at risk of eviction ensuring a reasonable likelihood of maintaining your tenancy for the next six months
• you are without viable alternatives – the rent bank is intended as a last resort, after all other reasonable resources, supports, and solutions must have been exhausted

Please note this is a taxable benefit. For more information on taxable benefits, visit the Government of Canada - Taxable Benefits.

• Valid photo ID: A government-issued photo ID showing your New Brunswick address (alternative approved forms may be accepted in extenuating circumstances).
• Rent payment records: Documentation of recent rent payments to demonstrate your payment history prior to the crisis.
• Utility bills: Your most recent utility bill(s) showing your account balance and payment history.
• Proof of income:
  • Last year’s Notice of Assessment(s)
  • At least four consecutive recent pay stubs or bank statements for all sources of monthly income (if you work multiple jobs, or have multiple sources of income, please provide separate documents for each)
• Rental agreement: A current or new rental agreement (or a signed rental declaration form). Applicants seeking new housing are encouraged to apply before securing a new lease.
• Eviction notices: A formal notice of eviction or lease termination, or any eviction warnings you have received from your landlord. For those who have been evicted, confirmation that you are currently residing in temporary or alternative accommodations.
• Additional documentation: Households may be requested to provide other documentation to verify their eligibility. Where not all eligibility requirements can be demonstrated, households may be required to submit a concrete and supported action plan to improve the factors affecting their ongoing housing stability.

Once a household has been pre-approved for a grant, Housing NB will contact the landlord or utility provider on your behalf to ensure agreement that repayment will resolve your current housing instability issue. Where a landlord is not legally obligated to accept payment on arrears or to cease the eviction proceedings, the grant cannot be approved.

Once an application is received, it can take up to two business days to be reviewed.

Once screened, a program delivery officer will contact you by email or phone to request any outstanding documentation needed before scheduling your phone interview. Where applicants have received a formal eviction notice, the interview may be scheduled while the applicant compiles and submits the required documents.

When the required information is received and your interview completed, it can take at least four business days to decide and, if approved, issue the payment.