Moncton is like a tightly knit village when it comes to finding somewhere to live. With the lack of Housing and influx of people moving from the rest of Canada, it’s more about who you know.
While it’s easier to find somewhere to live in Moncton if you have friends or family members living here, the traditional ways of finding housing can still work.
In this post we’re going to look at how you can find somewhere to live in Moncton, whether you’re looking for an apartment, a house, or a short-term lease.
See our post on finding a job in Moncton for some more help during your move.
Renting in Moncton Checklist
I wanted to start with a summary renting checklist.
This is going to give you an idea of what’s needed to rent an apartment in Moncton. It’s going to be super useful to have this, especially when you’re moving from somewhere that has a completely different rental culture and Market.
Here are some of the things you need when you’re looking at apartments:
References
Most landlords are going to ask for at least three character references.
These can be former roommates, landlords, your employer, teammates, and even family members as long as you don’t disclose this.
Keep track of any character references for renting.
Make a note of their phone numbers and contact information that you can provide with a landlord if you find an apartment you like.
Pet references
If you’re looking for a pet friendly apartments in Moncton, it’s a good idea to have a pet reference for your cat or dog.
This should be two to three people that can attest to how quiet and well-trained your cat or dog is. Your veterinarian, old roommates, the place you trained your dog, your neighbors are all reasonable pet references.
Your address history
On the rental application you’ll be expected to fill out your last one to two home addresses.
This is standard in New Brunswick and might be the same depending on What province you are from.
Your employer name and phone number
It’s almost impossible to find an apartment in Moncton if you’re unemployed. If you are unemployed, plan to pay at least the first six months in advance if you’re serious about securing a rental lease.
Otherwise, note down your employer name and phone number so that it’s ready when you’re filling out a rental application. Using your employer as a reference is a great option as well, if possible.
If you’re planning to prepay your rent, double-check that the payment is noted in the rental lease. This helps to prevent you from getting scammed during or at the end of your rental agreement term.
What do you need to sign a rental lease in Moncton?
Deposit payment
When you sign the lease you’re going to need a deposit payment. This is also known as a security deposit.
Depending on your agreement, this can be used as the last month’s rent or returned to you after you move out.
First month’s rent payment
You will need to provide the payment for the first month of rent when you sign the lease.
This is standard across Canada and helps to secure your rental.
Damage deposit for pets
Some apartments might require a pet deposit that is in addition to your security deposit payment.
Make sure this is included in the lease agreement so that you are able to get your money back when you move out.
How to pay your rent in Moncton
Some landlords may require that you pay your first month using a paper check.
Otherwise, e-transfer or automatic withdrawals can be set up with any Canadian Bank.
How to rent in Moncton: Helpful Tips
Security deposit information
There is no Nationwide to deposit system in Canada.
It’s the landlord or property management company that will hold the money used as your security deposit.
This money will be returned to you when you move out as long as the apartment is in a reasonable condition.
In some cases, some or all of your deposit will be kept if the apartment was damaged or if extra cleaning is needed.
Double check your lease agreement and document everything before you move in to avoid any issues when you’re planning on moving out.
References
It’s common in Moncton for landlords and property management companies to ask for your references.
Typically, references would be a character reference that you would provide with their name and phone number.
This could be co-workers, friends, family members, employers, other landlords, Etc.
It’s important to note that your potential landlord will most likely call your references to ask about you.
Some questions a landlord would ask for a reference call would be:
- Are you a nice or polite person?
- How long has the reference known you?
- Did you always pay your rent on time?
- Did you ever cause any damage, excessive noise, or any other noticeable problems at the property you were living at before?
- Did you ever smoke in the apartment or house that you were renting?
- Did you have any pets?
Moncton lease terms
In Moncton, apartments are usually rented for one year.
After this time the year lease can be renewed or it will turn into a month-to-month lease.
Month to month apartments in Moncton are hard to find. Even 6 month rentals are difficult.
If you’re looking for a short-term rental in Moncton I would recommend Airbnb or subletting.
Subletting in Moncton
Subletting is popular where there are a lot of seasonal workers. If you’re planning on subletting in Moncton, always sign a lease and research your landlord.
You will also want to research your rights and ask locally about the property that you’re renting.
Payment
We have mentioned this already, but most rental payment is done using a transfer or direct deposit. All banks in Canada support this.
Some landlords will ask for paper checks oh, but it’s better to avoid this. You should also avoid paying cash as well.
When is rent due?
In New Brunswick, rent is paid once a month.
The timeline will depend on your rental agreement and landlord requirements.
Typically, you can expect to pay rent on the first day of every month.
How often do you get paid in New Brunswick?
In New Brunswick, most employers will pay you twice per month.
Some employers will even pay you every week.
Getting paid once per month, which is common in Europe and the UK, is not something that happens in Canada.
Landlords entering your apartment in Moncton
In Canada, landlords cannot enter your apartment at any time.
This will be noted in your lease agreement.
The landlord must give you 24 hours of notice, in writing, in advance of entering your apartment. It doesn’t matter what the reason is, whether it’s inspecting the unit, maintenance, or showing the unit to someone else – notice of entering must be given at least 24 hours before.
Know your tenants rights in New Brunswick
As a tenant in New Brunswick, you have tenant rights to protect you against the landlord.
Whether you’re a resident, foreigner, or temporary resident – these rights still apply.
You can explore your New Brunswick tenant rights here.
Keep your SIN number safe
Always keep your social insurance number safe. Never give it out for a rental contract.
In Canada, your social insurance number should only be given to your employer, your bank, and the Canada revenue agency.
You should never give your social insurance number to a potential landlord if they’re asking for it on a rental application or rental lease.
They can easily run a credit check on you with your first and last name along with your date of birth.
There’s no need to give anybody your SIN Number when you’re looking for an apartment or rental.
Rental Websites in Moncton
If you’re looking to rent a room, house, or apartments in Moncton there are a number of different rental websites you can use:
-
Moving to Moncton for a job? Ask your employer, your coworkers or HR department if they know of apartment vacancies. This is a great way to find somewhere to live and personal referrals are the best way to find housing locally.
-
Facebook Groups: This is another great way to find somewhere to live. There are plenty of Moncton Facebook groups for apartments and rentals. Start with a search for ‘apartments for rent’ and join any groups that are relevant.
-
Padmapper: While a less popular site for finding a place, it’s still used. This is a great place to check for higher end apartments and condos in Moncton. You can start your search on Padmapper here.
-
Kijiji: This is a popular online marketplace in the Maritimes. It’s a little less formal then some of the other platforms but still a great place to check if you’re looking for somewhere to rent. kijiji.ca
Short term rentals in Moncton
Short term housing in Moncton is usually resort for temporary workers. Given the high costs involved it’s not a very popular option for people planning to move or live here.
- AirBnb is one of the best places to check for short term rentals, though this platform will command the highest prices. You can check out the Airbnb website and use the search function with your relevant information to find somewhere to stay.
- Assomption Boulevard. This is a modern, low-rise apartment with short term rentals available. There are one and two bedrooms, it’s pet friendly, and there is a three night minimum stay. Check out their website here.
- Magicstay. This is a website you can use to find short-term rentals. It features a search bar and allows you to find properties available based on your dates and other requirements. You can check out the website here.
- Facebook. It’s also worth giving Facebook a try. Look for various housing groups and check marketplace to see if there are any short term rentals available.
- Hotels and motels. If you’re in a tight spot, consider reaching out to hotels and motels directly to see if they offer any rooms available for short term rent. Many properties will offer a discount on month long or longer stays, so it’s worth a try if you’re looking for somewhere quickly.
Renting in Moncton: What if you Have Children?
In New Brunswick, a landlord can’t refuse to rent to you because you have children.
While there can be limits to the number of people that can live in a rental, children can’t be a requirement or they can turn you away.
Keep in mind that you will probably be looking for a two bedroom apartment, or bigger, and this will make the apartment search slightly more difficult as there are less of these apartments available.
Leasing Agents, Brokers, and Realtors in Moncton
In many places around the world, it’s common to use a middleman to find an apartment. Typically this would be a leasing agent, broker, or even a realtor.
This is not a thing in New Brunswick and you’re better off looking for your own Moncton rental rather than hiring or paying somebody to do it.
Ultimately, it’s up to you to browse listings, arrange a meeting, view the apartment, and make sure everything with your lease is totally legal before you sign anything or provide any payments.
Rental Scams in New Brunswick
Like anywhere else in Canada, there are some common rental scams in New Brunswick that you should be aware of.
There is some helpful information on the RCMP website as well as the Canadian antifraud centre website to educate yourself on. If you find yourself a victim of a Moncton rental scam, contact the police and your bank immediately to begin resolving the issue.
Here are some of the common rental scams you should be aware of:
- The landlord tries to pressure you to give them money before signing a lease or you seeing the apartment, either on paper or electronically. Never hand over any money until both parties have signed the lease.
- Confirm that the landlord is who they say they are. Ask to see their photo identification, other references, and run away if they refuse to provide you with any identification.
- Never pay for your rental in cash. Always pay for your rental with a personal check, E transfer, certified check, or any other standard Canadian payment. You also need to avoid using gift cards or cryptocurrency, especially if somebody asks you.
- Make every attempt to visit the property in person. If you’re not able to visit, make an attempt to have somebody visit for you. This is to verify that the property is legitimate, the landlord is who they say they are, and there aren’t any serious problems with the rental unit
- Run some online searches of the landlords name, the rental address, and any other relevant information. This will make it easier to find if there has been any scams with this property previously.
- Ask the landlord to see utility bills for the property. This is to ensure that the landlord is the actual owner of the property and not some stranger or another renter trying to scam you.
