Newfoundland and Labrador: Rent Increases, Deposits and Notice Periods

15 hours ago

2 min read

Newfoundland and Labrador works differently from provinces that publish an annual percentage. There is no headline number to look up. What the province sets instead is timing: when rent can change at all, how much you can hold as a deposit, and how much notice each side owes the other.

When rent can be increased

There is no published percentage cap in the official policy pages. The restrictions are on timing:

Rent cannot be increased during a fixed-term agreement.
Rent cannot be increased more than once in any 12-month period.
Rent cannot be increased during the first 12 months of a week-to-week or month-to-month tenancy.

For monthly and fixed-term agreements, written notice of an increase must be given not less than six months before the effective date. Six months is one of the longest notice periods in the country, so an increase has to be planned well ahead.

Weekly tenancies have a shorter period, and the official sources differ on exactly what it is. Confirm that one with the Residential Tenancies Office rather than relying on a secondary source, including this post.

Security deposits

Week-to-week tenancy: the deposit cannot be greater than the first two weeks of rent.
Monthly tenancy: the deposit must not exceed three quarters of the first month's rent.

The deposit has to be returned within 10 days after the tenancy ends, unless there is a written agreement otherwise or an application for dispute resolution has been filed.

Notice to end a tenancy: what a tenant gives

Week-to-week: not less than 7 days before the end of the rental period.
Month-to-month: not less than one month.
Fixed term: a tenant can end early with one month of notice only in listed special circumstances, such as ill health.
A tenant leaving because of family violence gives at least 30 days.

Notice to end a tenancy: what a landlord gives

Week-to-week: not less than 4 weeks.
Month-to-month: not less than 3 months.

Notices must be in the prescribed form. A verbal notice is not valid, however clearly it was communicated.

Where disputes are decided

The Residential Tenancies Office handles disputes, through an Application for Dispute Resolution.

Getting help with a Newfoundland and Labrador rental

SMOOTH supports owners in the province through a partner-supported model, which means management is coordinated with vetted local providers rather than from an office we staff there.

More is on our Newfoundland and Labrador property management page. For your specific property, email admin@smoothpm.ca or call 1 (866) 255-1902.

This post is general information for Newfoundland and Labrador landlords and is not legal advice. Confirm anything you intend to rely on with the Residential Tenancies Office.