Law360 Canada (September 17, 2026, 4:37 PM EDT) -- Those in New Brunswick’s residential tenancies sector are concerned about a lack of clarity in the rules around rent increases, evictions, repairs and dispute resolution, according to a new survey.
On Sept. 16, New Brunswick’s government
released its
What We Heard report as part of reviewing the province’s
Residential Tenancies Act. The survey outlined concerns on the part of residents, as well as changes they would like to see happen in the province’s rental housing system.
According to the report, the consultation process received a total of 2,852 responses; there were 1,675 “complete” responses from stakeholders such as tenants, landlords, property managers, housing providers, community groups, seniors and newcomers.
Of the respondents, 67 per cent were tenants and 12 per cent were landlords. Percentages were not provided for other respondents. The greatest number were from the large urban centres of Moncton, Fredericton and the Greater Saint John Area.
As for feedback, 60 per cent of respondents said they had experienced challenges with rent increases and affordability, while 58 per cent reported concerns around repairs and maintenance, and 37 per cent raised red flags regarding evictions.
The report went on to find that 27 per cent reported concerns about dispute resolution or “timelines,” while 22 per cent reported challenges in understanding their rights and responsibilities.
“Many people said the current system is hard to use and does not fully match today’s housing reality,” states the report. “People said they want a system that is clearer, more consistent, easier to predict and easier to trust.”
As for tenants, a number said the dispute process “can be slow and hard to understand,” and that they wanted “access to clear and reliable information.” Landlords cited concerns around the non-payment of rent, lengthy eviction timelines and property damage.
Many respondents also said they “want clearer rules, more consistent decisions, and faster dispute and enforcement processes.”
“While the people who answered the survey had different experiences and perspectives, there were common themes of rising rents, delays in repairs and resolution of disputes, enforcement issues, housing stability, and how hard the system can be to navigate for the average New Brunswicker,” concludes the report.
As for next steps, the province will hold a series of “targeted engagement sessions” with housing experts, tenant groups, landlords and various other stakeholders “to help ensure the new legislation is balanced, practical and responsive to the needs” of New Brunswickers.
The province’s minister responsible for the New Brunswick Housing Commission, David Hickey, commented on the report.
“We asked New Brunswickers what was working, what is not, and what has to change, and we’re grateful they have shared their experiences so that we can make transformative changes,” said Hickey in a statement. “This report shows that we’ve heard them and it gives us a better understanding of the pressures facing tenants and landlords, and what we need to do to make life easier for everyone.”
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