How to Read Your Lease in New Brunswick: Tenant Guide

Signing a lease is an important step for every tenant in New Brunswick. Whether you’re new to renting or experienced, understanding your lease agreement helps protect your rights and avoids costly mistakes. This guide explains how to read and make sense of your lease, what every section means, and where to find help if you have questions.

Why Careful Review of Your Lease Agreement Matters

Your lease is a legally binding contract between you and your landlord. It sets out rules for your tenancy, the rent amount, your responsibilities, and what you can expect from your landlord. Reading your lease carefully helps you:

• Know exactly what you are responsible for
• Avoid misunderstandings about rent, rules, or deposits
• Prevent disputes about repairs, pets, or moving out

If you have questions, New Brunswick's Residential Tenancies Act is the law that covers your rights and responsibilities as a tenant. You can read the official Residential Tenancies Act online.^[1]

Key Sections in Every Lease Agreement

New Brunswick leases may vary, but they generally cover these areas:

• Tenant and landlord information: Names, addresses, and contact details
• Rental property details: The exact unit or address you’re renting
• Term of the lease: Start and end dates, or if the lease is month-to-month
• Rent: Amount, when and how it’s paid, and any late fees
• Deposits: Most leases require a security deposit — know how much and when it’s paid. See Understanding Rental Deposits: What Tenants Need to Know for full details.
• Utilities: Which are included in rent, and which you must pay separately
• Rules: Rules about pets, guests, smoking, or shared spaces
• Repairs and maintenance: Who is responsible for routine and emergency fixes
• Entry: When and how your landlord can enter your unit
• Notice: How to end the lease and when written notice is required

Review each section, and ask your landlord to clarify anything you don’t understand before you sign.

Where to Get Your Lease and Official Forms

In New Brunswick, most tenancies use the standard "Residential Lease Agreement" form available through the Residential Tenancies Tribunal. Your landlord should give you a copy before you move in. If you need official forms, you can find and download them from the Residential Tenancies Tribunal Forms page.^[2]

Examples of Common Tenant Forms

• Application for Assistance (Form 1): Use this to ask the Tribunal for help with a dispute about your lease, rent, deposit, or repairs. For example, if your landlord withholds your deposit after you move out, you can apply with this form. Download Form 1 here.
• Notice of Termination (Form 2 or 3): Tenants use these to formally notify their landlord they are ending the lease. Always use the official version, and keep a copy for your records. Find Notice Forms here.

Be sure to submit forms as early as required and follow instructions closely.

What to Look for When Reading Your Lease

Take your time and check these details before signing:

• Is the rent amount and deposit clear and accurate?
• Are utility responsibilities listed correctly?
• Are all rules (pets, parking, smoking) reasonable and explained?
• Does the notice period for moving out comply with New Brunswick law?
• Who is responsible for repairs and maintenance?
• What happens if you or your landlord wants to end the lease early?

After You Sign: Next Steps for New Brunswick Tenants

Once you sign the lease, you must follow the terms — and so must your landlord. Familiarize yourself with what comes next, including paying rent, caring for the unit, and handling repairs. For an overview of your duties as a tenant, check Obligations of Landlords and Tenants: Rights and Responsibilities Explained.

If you run into problems with your rental, learn more in Tenant Rights and Landlord Rights in New Brunswick.

For the widest selection of homes, Find rental homes across Canada on Houseme.

FAQ: Reading Your Lease in New Brunswick

1. What if I don't understand a part of my lease?
   Ask your landlord for clarification before signing. If you still aren’t sure, contact the Residential Tenancies Tribunal for advice.
2. Can my landlord add extra rules after I sign?
   No, new rules are only valid if you agree in writing. Existing rules or changes must comply with the Residential Tenancies Act.
3. Is my landlord allowed to ask for more than one month’s rent as a deposit?
   No. In New Brunswick, the security deposit cannot exceed one month's rent by law.
4. Do I have to use a government lease form?
   The Tribunal recommends using the standard lease form, but private landlords may offer their own. All terms must still follow the law.
5. Where do I go for rental disputes or questions?
   Contact the Residential Tenancies Tribunal — they are the official authority for resolving tenancy issues in New Brunswick.

Key Takeaways for Tenants

• Always read your lease carefully and ask questions before signing
• Make sure all rules and financial terms are detailed and legal
• Save a signed copy of your agreement and know where to get help if needed

Need Help? Resources for Tenants

• Residential Tenancies Tribunal (New Brunswick) – Official board for landlord-tenant disputes and lease information
• New Brunswick Residential Tenancies Forms and Guides
• Public Legal Education and Information Service of New Brunswick (PLEIS-NB) – Tenant rights info

---

1. Residential Tenancies Act, SNB 1975, c R-10.2. Read the Act here.
2. New Brunswick Residential Tenancies Tribunal. Official Tribunal Website.

Categories

Tenant Rights & Responsibilities Rent & Deposits Leases & Agreements Moving In / Out Maintenance & Repairs Evictions Roommates & Shared Housing Discrimination & Accessibility Utilities & Services Affordable Housing & Subsidies Dispute Resolution & LTB Safety & Security Privacy & Entry by Landlord Special Tenancy Situations Tenant Insurance & Liability Post-Eviction Resources Landlord Compliance & Penalties Legal Precedents & Case Summaries Mental Health & Tenancy