Breaking a lease in New Brunswick
This page is the free New Brunswick guide. No sign-in. Read on.
New Brunswick has the tightest published assignment mechanic in the country, a 7-day deemed consent, plus a rent-increase escape, a violence exit, and an application-to-the-officer route for a landlord's breach.
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How much notice for a periodic tenancy
Open this section ↓A week-to-week lease needs one full week of notice; a month-to-month lease one full month; a year-to-year lease three months before the end of the lease year. The written notice must state the rental unit address and the termination date and be signed by the tenant.
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Fixed term: can it end early?
Open this section ↓A fixed-term lease automatically ends at the end of the agreed period, with no general early exit.
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Assignment and sublet
A tenant serves a Request for Consent to Assign.Open this section ↓A tenant serves a Request for Consent to Assign. The landlord shall not arbitrarily or unreasonably withhold consent, may charge at most twenty dollars in expenses, and has 7 days to respond. If the landlord does not respond, consent is deemed given.
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The violence exit
Under section 24.01, a tenant who is a victim of domestic violence, intimate partner violence, sexual violence, or criminal harassment can end the lease early.Open this section ↓Under section 24.01, a tenant who is a victim of domestic violence, intimate partner violence, sexual violence, or criminal harassment can end the lease early. It takes a notice of termination plus a Form 10 Third-Party Declaration signed by an authorized verifier such as a healthcare provider, counsellor, or police officer. On a fixed term the notice and declaration are served at least one month before the expiration of any month, effective the last day of that month. The landlord is not entitled to compensation for the early termination.
If you are in danger, call 911. Support is also available across Canada through your local victim services.
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Other published exits
Open this section ↓- Rent-increase escape: when a tenant receives a rent-increase notice, the tenant may terminate the tenancy effective the day before the increase takes effect, giving at least one month of notice on a fixed term or a year-to-year or month-to-month tenancy, or one week on a week-to-week tenancy.
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If your landlord is in breach
Open this section ↓New Brunswick has no self-serve tenant notice route for a landlord's breach, but there is a route: under section 6(6.2), a tenant who has notified a residential tenancies officer of the landlord's failure to comply can apply to the officer to terminate the tenancy. So the answer is not "no route", it is "apply to the officer".
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Common Questions
What happens if my New Brunswick landlord ignores my request to assign?Open this section ↓↑ Close this sectionWhat happens if my New Brunswick landlord ignores my request to assign?
The landlord shall not arbitrarily or unreasonably withhold consent, may charge at most twenty dollars in expenses, and has 7 days to respond. If the landlord does not respond, consent is deemed given.
Can I break a New Brunswick lease early if my landlord is not meeting obligations?
There is no self-serve notice route for a landlord's breach, but under section 6(6.2) a tenant who has notified a residential tenancies officer of the failure can apply to the officer to terminate the tenancy.
This page tells you what the published rules and documents are. It does not predict what a landlord will agree to or how a tribunal will decide. Following the correct route helps avoid owing rent you did not have to, but nothing here guarantees a particular result. For advice on your situation, contact your provincial tribunal or a paralegal or lawyer.
Where to go from here
Guidepost is not a law firm and does not give legal advice. This page is general information about the process for New Brunswick. The correct notice, documents, and route depend on your facts; for advice, contact your provincial tribunal or a paralegal or lawyer. Full disclaimer. Facts checked September 2026.
Informational guide only. Guidepost is not a law firm. This guide explains the typical process and is not legal advice. Requirements can change. Verify current rules with the relevant government authority or a qualified professional before you act.