Nova Scotia's 2 per cent rent cap is being extended, but at a higher rate
Nova Scotia introduced an amendment to the Residential Rental Cap Act that will see a five per cent cap come into effect Jan. 1, 2024, which will remain in effect until Dec. 31, 2025.
The province's current two per cent cap was established in November 2020 and will remain in place until Dec. 31, 2023.
“When deciding on a five per cent increase per year for the next two years, we took into account the projected rate of inflation over that time. We chose five per cent to allow landlords to catch up with inflation while avoiding any large rate increases for tenants,” says Service Nova Scotia Minister Colton Leblanc.
This means someone paying $1,500 a month will see their rent increase by $75.
Joanne Hussey, a community legal worker with Dalhousie Legal Aid, was concerned the province was going to scrap the rent cap all together.
“I think we were really worried about the impact that would have on our clients and on tenants generally. I think renters in this province have been feeling that squeeze of rents getting much higher, their incomes not changing and their options being fewer and fewer,” Hussey says.
Property owners on the other hand were hoping Leblanc was going to pull the plug on the cap.
Still, Peter Polley says the increase to five per cent is too little, too late.
“If you mathematically add together the two per cent the last two years, plus five going forward, that would be less than half of inflation, call it the broad based inflation level. Which is a fraction of what we are incurring at the property level in terms of what is happening with our property taxes that are skyrocketing, our insurance, water, everybody knows electricity,” says Polley.
The rent cap applies to residential tenants who are renewing their lease or are signing another fixed-term lease for the same unit.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'He didn't want to die': Family of Calgary man killed in standoff speaks out
Family of a Calgary man killed after a 30-hour standoff with police last week are speaking out, sharing details of the tense and heart-wrenching experience.
Toronto family doctor who called patient's body 'perfect' suspended for 3 months: tribunal
A family doctor in Toronto has been suspended for three months after a disciplinary tribunal found that he failed to follow proper protocols while examining a patient's breasts and made inappropriate comments about her body.
Ohio mom who left toddler alone 10 days when she went on vacation pleads guilty to aggravated murder
An Ohio mother whose 16-month-old daughter died after being left home alone in a playpen for 10 days last summer while she went on vacation was sentenced Monday to life in prison with no chance of parole.
Canadian commander of volunteer fighter group dies in Ukraine
A Canadian-born commander of the so-called Norman Brigade, a volunteer fighting group in Ukraine, has died.
5 charged in Calgary kidnappings that targeted women
Calgary police have charged five men in a pair of kidnappings last year that targeted innocent victims.
Demand soars for solar eclipse glasses in Canada. Are they worth buying?
The demand for total solar eclipse glasses used to safely view the rare celestial event has been ramping up as sellers, along with astronomy and eye-care experts in Canada, warn that viewing the eclipse with the naked eye is dangerous.
Woman, 18, killed by co-worker's vehicle on Highway 1 in Moose Jaw
Moose Jaw police say an 18-year-old woman who was at work has died from injuries she sustained in a collision with a vehicle being driven by her co-worker last Thursday.
Retired teacher pleads guilty to paying for sex with 15-year-old in Collingwood, Ont.
In a Barrie courtroom on Monday, a retired high school teacher from the Niagara Region pleaded guilty to sexual touching and obtaining sexual services from a 15-year-old boy in Collingwood in 2021.
MPs to vote on NDP motion calling on Canada to recognize Palestinian statehood
Members of Parliament will vote Monday on a motion from the federal New Democrats, calling on Canada to recognize the 'State of Palestine,' among a range of other calls to action in regards to the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict.