- A New Brunswick landlord must give six months' written notice and generally cannot raise rent by more than 3%.
- A landlord can apply to a residential tenancies officer for a larger increase, and a tenant can ask for a review of a notice within 60 days.
- Timing rules and written agreements can change how often rent may go up, so check your own tenancy.
A rent increase notice can be stressful, especially when you are not sure what your landlord is allowed to do. New Brunswick has rules on how much rent can go up, how often, and how much warning you must get.
This article walks through those rules under the Residential Tenancies Act and explains how to question a notice that looks wrong or unreasonable. It is general information, not advice on your particular tenancy.
This article covers the law of New Brunswick.
Is there a cap on rent increases?
Yes. A landlord must not increase rent by more than 3% effective at any time on or after February 1, 2025. If a notice asks for more than 3%, it is treated as a notice of 3%.
The government announced in June 2026 that the cap stays at 3% for 2027. The Residential Tenancies Act is under review, so it is worth confirming the current figure before you rely on it.
What a valid notice must look like
A landlord cannot raise the rent unless the tenant is given six months' notice. The notice must be a separate document, dated and signed by the landlord or agent, and it must state the current rent, the new rent and the effective date.
- Is the notice a separate document, not just a line in another letter?
- Is it dated and signed by the landlord or agent?
- Does it show the current rent, the new rent and the date the increase starts?
- Does it give you six months before the increase takes effect?
How often can rent go up?
Unless you and the landlord agree otherwise in writing, rent cannot be increased in the first consecutive 12-month period of a tenancy. After that, it can be increased no more than once in any consecutive 12-month period.
Because those limits can be varied by written agreement, check any lease or side agreement you signed. Increases for mobile home sites must be the same percentage across the community or area.
Can a landlord ask for more than 3%?
Sometimes. A landlord may apply to a residential tenancies officer for an increase above 3%. The officer may approve it in whole or in part, up to an upper limit set by regulation. That limit is 9% in the General Regulation as currently written, and it is tied to renovation capital expenditures.
A landlord cannot use an increase to punish you. Retaliatory increase notices after a tenant complaint are prohibited.
What to do if the increase seems unreasonable
You can ask a residential tenancies officer to review a rent increase notice within 60 days of receiving it. There is no fee, and you must include a copy of the notice. Do not wait, since the time limit runs from when you receive the notice.
- Keep the notice and note the date you received it.
- Compare it against the notice requirements and the 3% cap.
- Check your lease for any written agreement about timing.
- Contact a residential tenancies officer within 60 days if something looks wrong.
- Speak with a lawyer if the situation is complicated or you are unsure of your rights.
Frequently asked questions
Can my landlord raise my rent by 10%?
Not by simply sending a notice. A notice for more than 3% is treated as a notice of 3%. A landlord can apply to a residential tenancies officer for more, and the officer may approve it in whole or in part up to a regulated limit.
How much notice does a landlord have to give?
Six months' written notice is required. It must be a separate, dated and signed document showing the current rent, new rent and effective date.
Can rent go up in my first year?
Unless you agree otherwise in writing, rent cannot be increased in the first consecutive 12-month period of a tenancy. Check what you signed, since written agreements can vary this rule.
How do I challenge a rent increase notice?
Ask a residential tenancies officer to review it within 60 days of receiving it. There is no fee, and you must include a copy of the notice.
Sources
- gnb.ca - Rent increases — gnb.ca
- Residential Tenancies Act General Regulation 82-218, s. 11.1 — laws.gnb.ca
- Residential Tenancies Act, s. 11.1(2.01) — laws.gnb.ca
Links go to official government, court and regulator pages. The law changes — confirm you are reading the current version.
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