New Brunswick unpaid rent: next steps

Before you act

General information, not legal advice. Official sources checked October 6, 2026; this is not a lawyer-reviewed opinion. Read your order and the current official instructions. A stay, appeal, bankruptcy or payment can change what you may do.

Identify the document you hold

An eviction notice, security-deposit decision and judgment requiring payment are different documents. Do not assume a tenancy notice establishes a court-ordered balance. Ask the Residential Tenancies service or court registry which process can decide your particular unpaid-rent claim.

Confirm the court filing route

New Brunswick’s Enforcement of Money Judgments Act covers fixed-sum money judgments and includes Small Claims Court judgments filed with the court under the Small Claims Act. It also provides for certain other orders made enforceable through legislation. Confirm that your order qualifies and obtain the current filing requirements.

Ask about registration and sheriff instructions

The Act sets out judgment registration, enforcement instructions and sheriff-led measures, subject to exemptions and other creditors’ rights. Registration and a request for enforcement are distinct from winning the original claim. Obtain advice about the steps, fees and any limitations applicable to your judgment.

For reporting, supply the final order and current balance rather than a rent demand alone. Where the document does not establish eligible unpaid rent, resolve that issue before paying a reporting provider.

Where credit reporting fits

Court enforcement and credit reporting do different things. Enforcement uses court processes to pursue payment; reporting supplies information for a credit bureau to assess. Neither guarantees recovery. A final order does not guarantee bureau acceptance or a particular effect on a credit file.

StrikeLM checks eligibility before payment and charges $99 CAD for a submission of eligible order-backed unpaid rent to Equifax Canada and TransUnion Canada. It does not file court enforcement documents, garnish wages, seize property or negotiate payment. Keep the balance current and disclose any existing reporting of the same debt.

Keep a complete file

Retain the complete decision and order, service records, your lease, a dated rent ledger and proof of every payment. Separate rent from damage claims, costs and interest. Do not add fees to the reportable balance without a lawful basis. Notify any enforcement professional and reporting provider when the balance changes.