New Brunswick renting guide
Paying rent and late fees in New Brunswick
When rent is due is set by your lease. There is no general late fee in New Brunswick, and no interest on late rent. The one exception is a bounced cheque.
When is rent due, and can a landlord charge a late fee in New Brunswick?
For tenants
Your rent due date comes from the lease, the law sets no default. A landlord cannot charge a flat late fee or interest for paying late. The only allowed charge is for a cheque that bounces, and only if your lease says so, capped at the actual bank fee the landlord was charged. If you do pay late, the real risk is a Notice to Vacate, not a fee.
For landlords
Set the due date in the lease. You cannot add a late fee or interest for late rent. You may pass on the exact bank charge for a dishonoured cheque if the lease provides for it, with proof of the amount. There is no legal duty to give a rent receipt, though many tenants ask for one.
The key facts
- Rent due date
- Set by the lease
- Late fees
- Not allowed
- Interest on late rent
- Not allowed
- Bounced cheque
- Actual bank fee only, if the lease says so
Common questions
Can my landlord charge a late fee?
No. New Brunswick does not allow a flat late fee or interest on late rent. The only charge a landlord can pass on is the actual bank fee for a bounced cheque, and only if your lease provides for it.
Sources
- Residential Tenancies Act (New Brunswick)
- Service NB: Leases and ending a lease
- PLEIS-NB: Landlord & Tenant
This is general information, not legal advice. For a decision on your situation, contact Tenant and Landlord Relations Office (formerly the Residential Tenancies Tribunal).
Have a specific question? Ask the rental assistant for a plain answer with a source.


