Rent increases

A landlord must provide written notice to increase rent. How much notice is required depends on the terms of the lease. 

A landlord can increase rent as long as the tenant is given the proper amount of notice in writing. The 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 amount of the increase in rent 
• The date when the increase is to take effect
• Dated and signed by the landlord or agent

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.

A landlord must give a proper amount of notice to increase rent. The landlord must provide written notice 6 months before the rent increase will start.

For example, for a rent increase to start on July 1, your landlord must provide written notice no later than January 1.

Fixed-term lease

A landlord must give a proper amount of notice to increase rent. The landlord must provide written notice 3 months before the rent increase will start.

For example, for a rent increase to start on April 1, your landlord must provide written notice no later than January 1.

In the case of a fixed term tenancy, a landlord may increase the rent only if this choice has been selected in Section 4(5) of the Standard Form of Lease.

Mobile home site

For more information about the unique requirements related to mobile home sites:

Mobile home sites

For a period of one year, beginning on January 1, 2022 and ending on December 31, 2022, rent increases are limited to 3.8%.  For more information on this limitation click here.

Following December 31, 2022, the landlord must increase the rent for each unit in the same building by the same percentage or increase the rent in relation to what is charged for comparable units in the same geographic area.

The landlord cannot increase rent within the first 12 months of a tenancy.

The rent can only be increased once every 12 months.

If a tenant suspects the landlord increased rent because the tenant filed a complaint against them, they may contact the Residential Tenancies Tribunal who offers protection against retaliatory rent increases under the Residential Tenancies Act. 

When a tenant receives notice of a rent increase, they have the choice of requesting a review through the Residential Tenancies Tribunal or ending their lease. If they chose to request a review, they must apply within 30 days of service of notice.

Request a review

Tenants can ask to have a written notice reviewed to ensure it was served properly and meets all requirements. To request a review, they must apply within 30 days of receiving a notice of a rent increase. Complete an Application for Assistance to the Residential Tenancies Tribunal. Include a copy of the written notice of rent increase received from the landlord.

Apply online, or send printed or digital copies of completed forms to the Residential Tenancies Tribunal by email to irent@snb.ca, 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.

• Tenant Application for Assistance (Online)
• Tenant Application for Assistance (PDF)

Ending a lease

If they choose to end the lease, they must provide a written notice to the landlord. The written notice must include the address of the rental unit, the date and be signed by the tenant. It will take effect the day before the rent increase starts. How much notice is required depends on the lease term:

• For a fixed-term, year-to-year, or month-to-month lease, the tenant must provide at least 1 month’s written notice before the rent increase starts.
• For a week-to-week lease, the tenant must provide at least 1 week’s written notice before the rent increase starts.

If you have questions or need help understanding a notice of a rent increase, talk to your landlord or contact the Residential Tenancies Tribunal at 1-888-762-8600 or by email irent@snb.ca.