Handling Landlord Retaliation After Reporting in New Brunswick

If you’ve reported your landlord in New Brunswick—for health and safety concerns, repair requests, or another protected issue—retaliation can be worrying and stressful. Many tenants fear retribution such as sudden eviction or rent increases after exercising their rights. This guide explains what counts as illegal landlord retaliation in New Brunswick, how to document it, and what you can do to protect yourself under provincial law.

What Is Landlord Retaliation?

Retaliation occurs when a landlord takes negative action against you because you exercised your legal rights as a tenant. Common examples include:

• Giving you a notice to vacate after you submit a complaint about repairs or safety
• Raising your rent only after you report a problem to the Residential Tenancies Tribunal or a government authority
• Cutting off essential services (like heat or water) or refusing promised maintenance in response to your complaint

New Brunswick’s Residential Tenancies Act protects tenants from such unfair actions.¹

Your Rights and Where to Get Help

The Residential Tenancies Tribunal is the provincial authority for rental disputes, complaint handling, and tenant protections in New Brunswick. You can learn more about your rights and their services at the Residential Tenancies Tribunal official site.

Legally, your landlord cannot terminate your tenancy, deny services, or increase your rent in retaliation for you:

• Requesting repairs in writing
• Filing a complaint about health or safety
• Contacting the tribunal or municipal inspector

If you want to know more about common maintenance complaints and your options, explore How to Handle Complaints in Your Rental: A Tenant’s Guide.

Steps to Take if You Suspect Retaliation

If you think your landlord is taking negative action against you because you asserted your rights, here are practical steps to protect yourself:

• Document everything: Keep a log of communications, maintenance requests, and the dates you reported issues. Save emails, texts, or letters related to your complaint and the landlord’s response.
• Collect evidence: Take photos or videos if you’re dealing with repairs, damage, or unsafe conditions.
• Retain all notices: If your landlord serves you with a notice of rent increase or eviction soon after you file a complaint, keep both the notice and proof of your earlier complaint.
• Seek help from the tribunal: Contact the Residential Tenancies Tribunal for advice or to file a formal application if retaliation occurs.

For detailed guidance on landlord and tenant responsibilities, you may find Obligations of Landlords and Tenants: Rights and Responsibilities Explained useful.

Relevant Official Forms and How to Use Them

• Application for Determination of a Dispute (Form 6): Use this form if you need the tribunal to review retaliatory actions, such as a sudden eviction or rent increase after reporting your landlord. Download it and find step-by-step instructions on the official government site. Example: If your landlord issues a Notice to Vacate immediately after your repair request, fill out this form and submit it with your evidence.
• Notice of Complaint (Form 4): For reporting unresolved tenancy issues (such as unaddressed repairs or health and safety violations), use this form, available here. Attach copies of your communication attempts and supporting documents.

Summary: Why Documentation Matters

Having a clear paper trail is crucial in retaliation cases. The Residential Tenancies Tribunal relies on evidence, so always keep originals or copies of all related documents. You can contact them for further advice or submit forms online or in person.

How to Prevent Retaliation Before It Starts

Here are proactive steps to protect yourself as a tenant in New Brunswick:

• Make repair and complaint requests in writing
• Understand your basic tenancy rights and obligations
• Establish polite, documented communication with your landlord

For a full overview of your rights and responsibilities in the province, visit Tenant Rights and Landlord Rights in New Brunswick.

FAQ: Tenant Questions About Retaliation in New Brunswick

1. What qualifies as landlord retaliation in New Brunswick?
   Any negative action (such as eviction or rent increase) taken by your landlord after you assert your legal rights, such as filing a repair complaint, can be considered retaliation under the Residential Tenancies Act.
2. Can a landlord increase my rent in response to my complaint?
   No. If a rent increase is served soon after you make a protected complaint, you can challenge it with the Residential Tenancies Tribunal.
3. What should I do if I think my landlord is retaliating?
   Document everything and submit an Application for Determination of a Dispute (Form 6) to the Residential Tenancies Tribunal as soon as possible.
4. Does retaliation need to be proven?
   You need to provide evidence that your complaint directly led to the landlord’s negative action. Timelines, written correspondence, and official forms all help.

Key Takeaways for Tenants

• Tenants in New Brunswick are protected from retaliation after reporting their landlord for repairs or safety issues.
• Document all interactions; submit official forms to the Residential Tenancies Tribunal if needed.
• Act quickly to challenge unfair evictions, rent increases, or denial of services linked to your assertion of tenant rights.

Need Help? Resources for Tenants

• Residential Tenancies Tribunal (New Brunswick) – dispute resolution, forms, and advice
• Consumer Affairs, Service New Brunswick: 1-888-762-8600
• Legal Aid New Brunswick: Apply online or call 1-800-679-8493 for advice
• Tenant Rights and Landlord Rights in New Brunswick – provincial summary of rights

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1. Residential Tenancies Act, S.N.B. 1975, c. R-10.2. Read the full legislation here.
2. Residential Tenancies Tribunal, Government of New Brunswick. Official tribunal website.

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