Changes to Residential Tenancies Program for Tenants, Landlords

New rules and processes under the Residential Tenancies Program will improve efficiency and communication for tenants and landlords.

“We are always working to see how the Residential Tenancies Program can better meet the needs of both tenants and landlords. Landlords need to understand and follow the rules and provide tenants with safe and well-kept properties while tenants also need to understand and follow the rules, including respecting their rental unit and neighbours,” said Jill Balser, Minister of Service Nova Scotia. “It’s always a balance. That’s why we meet with tenant and landlord groups to help inform the changes we make.”

Changes include new timelines and clearer conditions for ending a tenancy, including three late rent payments, criminal behaviour, disturbing another tenant or the landlord, or extraordinary damage to a rental unit.

Landlords will be able to notify tenants three days after their rent is due that their lease can end if they don’t pay their rent. This does not mean tenants will have to leave their unit. The tenant will have 10 days after receiving the notice to either pay their rent, leave the unit or appeal to the Residential Tenancies Program.

The new notification timeline is consistent with other provinces. Nova Scotia previously had the longest wait times in the country, putting many landlords at financial risk.

Other changes include:

• new requirements for landlords to provide email addresses if their tenants do so, making it easier for the tenant to communicate with their landlord, particularly in situations where the landlord is not on-site
• publishing online some of the decisions from residential tenancies hearings, called residential tenancies director’s orders, to help people understand what they can expect from the program
• establishing a common anniversary date for land-lease communities, such as mobile home parks, for changing or implementing rules, and posting rules in an area that is accessible by all community tenants
• improving the process for tenants and landlords when a landlord of a land-lease community applies to charge rent above the annual allowable rent increase amount.

Changes come into effect April 30.

Quick Facts:

• the changes amend the Residential Tenancies Regulations to support amendments to the Residential Tenancies Act approved in September 2024
• operational and administrative updates needed to be made to the Residential Tenancies Program before the amendments to the act could be proclaimed

Additional Resources:

Residential Tenancies Program: https://novascotia.ca/residential-tenancies-tenants-and-landlords/

News release – Changes to Rent Cap, Residential Tenancies Act: https://news.novascotia.ca/en/2024/09/06/changes-rent-cap-residential-tenancies-act

News release – New Online Forms for Security Deposit Claims: https://news.novascotia.ca/en/2024/07/17/new-online-forms-security-deposit-claims