Province Helps Nova Scotians Learn New Rules for Residential Tenancies

Nova Scotia tenants and landlords will soon be better informed about changes to their rights and responsibilities when they enter into lease agreements.

Over the next several weeks, the province will launch an awareness campaign to help tenants and landlords understand revisions to the Residential Tenancies Act. These changes take effect Nov. 15.

"There have been a number of changes in residential tenancies over the past decade," said Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations Minister John MacDonell. "We've updated and modernized the act and regulations, and now it's time to ensure Nova Scotia tenants and landlords understand their new rights and responsibilities."

Amendments to the Residential Tenancies Act improve protections and balance the needs of tenants and landlords. They also improve the tenant and landlord dispute resolution process, while protecting the rights of both parties.

Other changes are:

• automatic lease renewal
• a streamlined process for landlords to deal with unpaid rent
• tenants on fixed-term leases can end their leases early, without financial penalty, for health reasons
• a simpler process for landlords to apply rent adjustments in land-lease communities (formerly mobile home parks)
• Tenants or landlords who are successful in a hearing may be awarded the application fee for the hearing or appeal

The new act also lets tenants request a potential purchaser of their manufactured home be approved as a tenant by their landlord for the land it is on, before the sale is completed. Landlords will now have 10 days to respond to the request.

For more information, visit www.accessns.ca/residential-tenancies .