New Brunswick rental market data
New Brunswick’s rental market has experienced significant change since 2020. Once one of the cheapest and most overlooked provinces for renters, explosive population growth — particularly in the Moncton CMA — drove vacancy rates to historic lows and pushed rents up sharply.
By 2025, conditions have begun to stabilize as new construction added supply and the province introduced temporary rent-increase limits.
Average rent by city (New Brunswick)
| City | 2BR Purpose-Built (est.) | 2BR Asking Rent | Vacancy Rate (est.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moncton | ~$1,150 | ~$1,400 | ~3.0% |
| Fredericton | ~$1,100 | ~$1,350 | ~3.2% |
| Saint John | ~$1,000 | ~$1,200 | ~3.5% |
New Brunswick asking rents average approximately $1,150 for a 1-bedroom and $1,400 for a 2-bedroom across the province.
New Brunswick rent rules
New Brunswick’s rent control has changed twice in recent years:
- Rent increase cap — A new 3% annual cap took effect in February 2025, extended through 2027 (next review May 2027). An earlier, unrelated 3.8% cap was introduced in 2022 and allowed to expire at the end of that year, leaving no cap in place from 2023 to early 2025.
- Renovation exception — Landlords can apply to the province to raise rent up to 9% if they can justify the increase with renovation costs
- Vacancy decontrol loophole — The cap applies only to sitting tenants; landlords can reset rent to market rate once a unit turns over to a new tenant
- Residential Tenancies Tribunal — Tenants can file complaints about excessive increases
- Notice requirements — Landlords must provide adequate notice before increasing rent
Key market drivers
Population growth: New Brunswick has been among Canada’s fastest-growing Atlantic provinces, with interprovincial migration from Ontario and international immigration to the Moncton and Fredericton areas.
Affordability attraction: Low rents and home prices attracted mobile workers and retirees from more expensive provinces.
University demand: UNB (Fredericton and Saint John), Université de Moncton, and Mount Allison University generate student rental demand.
Supply response: New rental construction has increased, particularly in Moncton, helping to stabilize vacancy rates.
Renting in New Brunswick: tenant rights overview
New Brunswick’s Residential Tenancies Act provides the framework for rentals:
- Rent increases: Capped at 3% per year for sitting tenants (as of 2026, extended through 2027) — landlords can apply to exceed the cap (up to 9%) for renovation-justified increases, and can reset rent to market rate once a tenant moves out
- Notice required: 3 months written notice for rent increases or lease termination
- Security deposit: Maximum 1 month’s rent
- Dispute resolution: Residential Tenancies Tribunal handles disputes
- Important: the cap only protects sitting tenants — the vacancy decontrol loophole means rents can jump sharply for new tenants
Average rents — New Brunswick (2025)
| City | Avg 1BR | Avg 2BR | Vacancy rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moncton | ~$1,300 | ~$1,600 | ~2.5% |
| Fredericton | ~$1,200 | ~$1,450 | ~2.8% |
| Saint John | ~$1,100 | ~$1,350 | ~3.2% |
Frequently asked questions
Is Moncton a good city to rent in? Moncton offers relatively affordable rents compared to other Canadian cities, with growing employment in the logistics, healthcare, and tech sectors. The city’s French-English bilingualism is an asset for federal government career opportunities. Rental supply has improved; vacancy rates around 2.5% offer reasonable choice for renters.
Does New Brunswick have rent control? Yes, as of February 2025. Like Ontario, BC, and Quebec, New Brunswick now caps annual rent increases for sitting tenants at 3% (extended through 2027). Landlords can apply to exceed the cap for renovation costs, and the cap does not apply once a unit turns over to a new tenant, so asking rents on vacant units can still rise sharply.
New Brunswick rental affordability
| City | Avg 2BR rent | Median household income | Affordability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moncton | ~$1,600 | ~$72,000 (~$6,000/month) | ~27% — affordable |
| Fredericton | ~$1,450 | ~$75,000 (~$6,250/month) | ~23% — affordable |
| Saint John | ~$1,350 | ~$65,000 (~$5,417/month) | ~25% — affordable |
New Brunswick remains one of the more affordable provinces for renters relative to income. The 3% rent cap protects sitting tenants, but the vacancy decontrol loophole means rents on vacant units can still rise sharply, and the market’s moderate demand growth has not yet driven the extreme increases seen in Halifax or Toronto.
Key renter tip for New Brunswick
The 3% cap only protects you as a sitting tenant — if you move, the next tenant’s rent can reset to market rate. If your landlord proposes an increase above 3% without a renovation justification, you can dispute it with the Residential Tenancies Tribunal. With vacancy rates around 2.5–4%, tenants in NB have more negotiating power than in tight BC or Ontario markets.
Tips for renting in New Brunswick
- Know your cap: Sitting tenants are protected by a 3% annual rent increase cap (as of 2026); dispute anything higher unless the landlord has an approved renovation-cost exception
- Understand fixed vs periodic tenancy: A fixed-term lease offers more rent certainty; a month-to-month lets landlords apply the annual increase with 3 months’ notice
- Ask about heat source: Many NB rentals use oil heat — ask who pays utilities and for historic heating costs before signing
- NB tenant resources: Service NB provides free information on residential tenancy rights
New Brunswick rental market outlook (2026)
New Brunswick attracted significant interprovincial migration from 2020–2023 (driven by remote work and lower cost of living), which tightened rental markets especially in Moncton and Fredericton. As of 2025–2026, migration has moderated and new rental supply is coming online. Vacancy rates are stable at 2.5–3.5%, providing reasonably balanced conditions for renters.
Moncton continues to attract tech sector employment and bilingual federal government workers, which supports sustained rental demand. Fredericton’s university base provides stable year-round demand.
Related pages
- Canada Rental Market Data — national overview
- Nova Scotia Rental Market — neighbouring Atlantic province
- Average Rent in Canada — rent comparison by city and province
- Income in New Brunswick — provincial income data
Sources
- CMHC Rental Market Survey — Housing Market Information Portal
- CMHC 2025 Rental Market Report — December 2025
- Service New Brunswick — Residential Tenancies — rent increase rules