Renting in Newfoundland and Labrador

Governing or Regulatory Body

• Residential Tenancies Section,
• Consumer and Commercial Affairs,
• Department of Government Services.

Name of Act / Regulations

Residential Tenancies Act

Types of Housing/Living Arrangements Covered by the Provincial Legislation

Residential rental properties

Exclusions: hospitals, tourist inns, prisons, temporary shelters, nursing homes, university and college residences, accommodations run by religious groups, co-ops, boarding houses, commercial non-residential properties.

Types of Rental Periods

The lease can be week-to-week, month-to-month, or terms of 6 months up to one year.

Is a signed lease required?

No. A verbal agreement is binding; however a sample lease form is available and recommended.

Is a signed move in/move out checklist required?

No. A checklist is recommended, but it is not mandatory.

Deposits

The amount of security deposit allowable depends on the term of the tenancy. For monthly or term tenancies: 3/4 of the first month's rent; weekly tenancy: no more than the amount of the rent payable for the first 2 weeks.

Landlords must request a security deposit before the tenant moves in and deposit it in a trust account within 2 days of receipt. The security deposit must be refunded to the tenant within 15 days of moving out or the landlord may apply to the Residential Tenancie Section to keep some or all of the deposit. If there is a dispute over the deposit refund, either the landlord or the tenant may apply to the Residential Tenancies Section for the security deposit. The interest rate on the security deposit is calculated as simple interest, not compounded. The landlord must pay the interest once the tenant moves out. The interest rates are set each year in December.

Key Money

Requiring key money is illegal.

Post-dated Cheques

Landlords may request post-dated cheques.

Renewal of a Lease Term

Lease terms are for a maximum of one-year, then they either end, convert into a month-to-month agreement or a tenant may sign another term agreement.

Terminating a Lease: Notice and Timing

In a term tenancy, which can have a maximum term of 1 year, either the landlord or tenant may terminate the tenancy at the end of the term by giving proper notice. For term leases, the tenant must give 2 month’s notice and the landlord must give 3 month’s notice for a standard termination. If a term lease is not renewed and notice is not given, a term tenancy converts to a month to month term.

In a periodic tenancy (for example, a month-to-month tenancy) the landlord may give 3 months notice to terminate the tenancy at any time, and the tenant must give one month notice.

Notice periods for terminating a lease depend on the reasons for termination and can range from days to weeks. All notices must be writing.

Other reasons that can be used to terminate a tenancy include:

• rent arrears 15 days late, 10 days notice to move out;
• material breach — 1 rental period notice;
• premises uninhabitable — immediate;
• interference with peaceful enjoyment — 5 days but not more than 14 days notice by tenant, not less than 5 days notice by landlord.

If tenant doesn't move out, the landlord may apply to the Residential Tenancies Section for an Order of Possession to terminate the tenancy. Evidence to prove why it was necessary to give notice of termination should be provided to the adjudicator at the hearing.

All notices must be in writing.

Assignments and Sublets

Landlords cannot unreasonably withhold consent for subletting or assigning a tenancy and may charge the tenant any expenses incurred for the sublet or assignment.

Rent Increases: Notice and Timing

Three month's written notice of a rent increase is required. A landlord may not increase rent during a fixed-term agreement, more than once in a 12-month period, or during the first 12 months of a weekly or monthly rental agreement.

Late Rent Payments

Rent is considered late the day after it is due. Late payment fees are set at $5.00 for the first day the rent is in arrears and $2.00 for each additional day up to a maximum of $75.00. The landlord may charge the tenant a fee, not to exceed $25.00, for non-sufficient funds (NSF) cheques.

Evictions

To evict a tenant, the landlord must complete an application, pay $20, attend a hearing held within 200 km of the rental premises and provide evidence. An order from the hearing will result, which states the reasons for the decision issued. This certified order is enforceable by the Sheriff's Office to evict the tenant. If the tenant disagrees with the adjudicator's decision, the tenant may apply to the Director of Residential Tenancies for a reconsideration stating reasons and/or may appeal to the Trial Division of the Newfoundland Supreme Court. An Order of Possession which allows the eviction to take place may take up to two weeks. Most other types of orders may take up to two months depending on their complexity.

Hearings are informal and parties generally represent themselves. Hearings allow for the landlord and tenant to present their evidence. An information officer provides information on what types of evidence they may present.

Fine Points

Permitting Landlord Entry to the Premises (Times and Reasons)

Landlords may enter the premises any time for emergencies. To access the rental unit for inspections, a landlord must give 24-hours written notice and enter during reasonable hours (9 a.m. - 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.). If Notice of Termination is given by either the landlord or tenant, 4 hours notice to show the premises to prospective tenants or buyers must be given to the tenant.

May the tenant withhold rent for repairs?

No. Tenant must provide a written list of repairs to the landlord and rent must be up to date. If repairs are not completed by the landlord, the tenant may apply to the Residential Tenancies Section for rent to be paid in trust to the Section until the repairs are completed.

Changing Locks

Not allowed without the consent of both the landlord and tenant.

Pets and Smoking

May a landlord refuse to rent to a tenant who has pets or smokes?

Yes, a landlord may refuse to rent to a tenant who has pets or smokes. If smoking and pets are allowed in the tenancy agreement, or the agreement does not address these issues, then they are permitted in the rental unit.

If a no pets and no smoking clause is written into a lease and the landlord discovers that the tenant has a pet and/or smokes in the rental unit, is this grounds for the landlord to evict the tenant?

Yes, if the rental agreement states that the tenants have no pets or agree not to smoke in the apartment and the tenant gets a pet or allows smoking, then the landlord may give a one rental period written notice of termination to the tenant under breach of material covenant to evict the tenant.

Contact Information For general information about renting in Newfoundland and Labrador contact:

Department of Government Services — Lands Branch
Residential Tenancies Section
Box 8700
5 Mews Place
St. John's, NF
A1B 4J6
Toll-free: 877-829-2608
Tel.: 709-729-2610, or 709-729-2608
Fax: 709-729-6998
http://www.gs.gov.nl.ca/cca/rt/
See Web site for all office locations.

Related Links

Residential Tenancies Act
Note: the official copy is not available online.
http://www.gov.nf.ca/hoa/statutes/r14-1.htm
(See provincial contact, above.)

Residential Tenancies Section, Nfld.
This site contains department information and practical information for landlords and tenants.
http://www.gs.gov.nl.ca/cca/rt/
(See provincial contact, above.)

Security Deposit Interest Regulations
This excerpt from the Residential Tenancies Act states the annual interest to be paid on security deposits and how the interest is to be calculated. The official version is not available online.
http://www.hoa.gov.nl.ca/hoa/regulations/rc000071.htm

Residential Tenancies Offices (RTO)
Locations of RTO offices in the province.
http://www.gs.gov.nl.ca/cca/rt/locations.stm

The Rental Agreement
Information on rental agreements, with links to related documents.
http://www.gs.gov.nl.ca/cca/rt/agreement.stm

Statutory Conditions
An excerpt from the Residential Tenancies Act, with a synopsis summary.
http://www.gs.gov.nl.ca/cca/rt/stat-cond.stm

Termination Notices
This is another excerpt from the Residential Tenancies Act, with a synopsis summary.
http://www.gs.gov.nl.ca/cca/rt/term-notice.stm

Security Deposits
A plain language explanation of security deposits.
http://www.gs.gov.nl.ca/cca/rt/sec-deposit.stm

Security Deposit Interest Calculator
This online calculator lets you punch in timelines and the deposit amount to calculate the amount of interest owed.
http://www.gs.gov.nl.ca/cca/rt/deposit-calc.asp

Human Rights Commission
Web site of the commission, which can help with landlord-tenant abuses that violate the Human Right's Code.
http://www.justice.gov.nl.ca/hrc/