Avoiding Maintenance & Repair Mistakes as a Tenant in New Brunswick

Are you renting in New Brunswick and worried about how to handle maintenance and repairs? Navigating problems with leaky taps, faulty heating, or pest issues can be tricky, but understanding your rights and responsibilities makes everything simpler. This guide will help you avoid common mistakes with maintenance and repairs, ensuring a safe and well-maintained home.

Understanding Maintenance and Repairs in New Brunswick

In New Brunswick, both tenants and landlords have clear responsibilities when it comes to maintenance and repairs. The Residential Tenancies Act of New Brunswick^[1] sets out these expectations to protect everyone involved.

Common Mistakes Tenants Make—and How to Avoid Them

• Not reporting repairs in writing: Always inform your landlord about needed repairs in writing for proper documentation.
• Attempting unauthorized repairs: Unless it's an emergency, do not do major repairs yourself without your landlord’s written permission.
• Delaying reports of urgent issues: Reporting problems promptly can prevent further damage and disagreements.
• Not knowing your health and safety rights: Living conditions that put your health at risk (like mould or no heat in winter) must be addressed quickly—these are not minor issues.

Recognizing these errors early helps foster a good tenant-landlord relationship and keeps your rental in top condition.

Your Rights and Responsibilities

Landlords are responsible for keeping rental properties in a good state of repair and fit for living. This means essential services (heat, water, electrical) and structural systems must work safely. Tenants are responsible for keeping their unit reasonably clean and for reporting issues as soon as they arise.

To better understand your legal rights in New Brunswick, see Tenant Rights and Landlord Rights in New Brunswick.

Distinguishing Between Routine and Emergency Repairs

• Routine repairs include minor fixes like leaky faucets or broken screens. Let your landlord know as soon as possible, but these do not require immediate attention.
• Emergency repairs involve issues threatening safety or causing major property damage (for example, burst pipes or loss of heat in winter). Report these right away and, if your landlord does not respond, you may take further action (see below).

How to Report Maintenance Issues

The best way to report a repair or maintenance problem is in writing (email, text, or letter) with the date, description, and a request for a repair timeline. Keep a copy for your records.

Useful Official Forms and How to Use Them

• Request for Assistance – Form 6.1 (Application to Director): Use this if your landlord does not make required repairs even after you have notified them in writing. Submit the form to the tribunal: Request for Assistance (Form 6.1).
  Example: If your landlord does not fix a broken furnace in winter despite repeated requests, you can file this form with the tribunal to seek an order for repairs.

The Tribunal Handling Tenant-Landlord Disputes in New Brunswick

The Residential Tenancies Tribunal (Service New Brunswick) helps tenants and landlords resolve problems related to repairs, maintenance, and all rental matters. If a repair is urgent and not addressed, you can apply to the tribunal for help.

Key Things to Remember

• Report issues in writing and keep records of all communications.
• Never withhold rent because of repairs unless ordered by the tribunal.
• Act quickly if there are health or safety risks—these are considered emergencies.

For more guidance, see Routine Repairs in Rental Units: Tenant and Landlord Responsibilities and Emergency Situations and Repairs: Tenant Rights and Responsibilities.

If pests, mould, or safety are concerns, consult Health and Safety Issues Every Tenant Should Know When Renting.

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FAQs for Tenants in New Brunswick

1. When is a repair considered an emergency?
   Repairs are emergencies when your health or safety is at risk (like major leaks, loss of heat in winter, or electrical failure). Inform your landlord immediately, then the tribunal if no action is taken.
2. Can I do repairs myself and deduct the cost from my rent?
   Only if the repair is urgent, you’ve tried every route (contacted landlord, told the tribunal), and you have written permission. Otherwise, you could violate your lease.
3. What do I do if my landlord ignores repair requests?
   Document your request in writing and submit Form 6.1 (Application to Director) to the Residential Tenancies Tribunal.
4. Am I responsible for minor repairs?
   You are typically expected to handle small, routine things—like changing lightbulbs or replacing batteries in smoke detectors—unless the lease says otherwise.
5. Who pays for repairs caused by tenant damage?
   If the damage was caused by you or your guests, you are responsible for the repair costs. Accidental or deliberate damage by tenants is not the landlord's responsibility.

How To: Handling a Repair Dispute with Your Landlord in New Brunswick

1. How do I officially request a repair?
   Write a dated note or email describing the problem. Keep a copy for yourself.
2. What steps do I take if the landlord doesn't fix the issue?
   Send a follow-up message, then complete and submit Form 6.1 to the tribunal.
3. How do I fill out Form 6.1?
   Download the form from Service New Brunswick, provide your information, describe the issue, and attach any supporting evidence or messages.

Need Help? Resources for Tenants

• Residential Tenancies Tribunal (Service New Brunswick) – For applications, forms, and advice
• New Brunswick Social Assistance & Housing – For support resources
• For more details on your rights, see Tenant Rights and Landlord Rights in New Brunswick

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1. Residential Tenancies Act of New Brunswick
2. Request for Assistance (Form 6.1) – Service New Brunswick
3. Residential Tenancies Tribunal (Service New Brunswick)

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