New Brunswick Security Deposit Rules: What a Landlord Can Charge
New Brunswick handles deposits differently: the landlord can't keep your money in their own account — it goes to a government office for safekeeping. Here's what a landlord can charge and how you get it back.
How Much Can They Charge?
In New Brunswick a security deposit is capped at one month's rent for most leases (one week's rent for a weekly tenancy; higher for a mobile-home site). A landlord can't demand more or add extra deposits on top.
The Deposit Is Held by the Government
This is the key difference: a landlord who collects a deposit must remit it to the Tenant and Landlord Relations Office (part of Service New Brunswick) within 15 days — they don't hold it themselves. It earns interest while held.
Getting It Back
At the end of the tenancy you apply to Service New Brunswick for your refund. The landlord then has about 7 days to file a claim against the deposit — if they don't, the money (with interest) is returned to you. A landlord can only claim it for unpaid rent or damage beyond normal wear and tear, and the Residential Tenancies Tribunal decides any dispute.
If There's a Dispute
Because the money is held by the government, a landlord can't simply keep it. If you disagree with a claim, the Residential Tenancies Tribunal decides. Move-in and move-out photos are your strongest evidence.