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CBC
2 days ago
- Business
- CBC
Halifax real estate listings advertising fixed-term leases as financial asset for buyers
While the Nova Scotia government has no plans to regulate a type of lease that's been called a loophole in the province's rent cap legislation, some real estate listings are advertising fixed-term leases as a financial benefit for potential buyers. A brief search by CBC News of multi-unit residential buildings for sale in Halifax in May showed a trend: at least 11 listings mentioned tenants on fixed-term leases. Two listings stated, "Currently double digit returns with rent increases coming in September," with one also saying the property has "little maintenance, zero vacancy and increasing rents." Others mentioned leases ending soon and boasted money-making potential in statements like "for the savvy investor the finances have upside as tenants turn over." Tim Allenby, chair of the Dartmouth chapter of tenant group ACORN, said he's not surprised by this marketing tactic. "It's the incentives of the system that currently exists," Allenby told CBC News in an interview. "They have it set up in such a way that landlords benefit from primarily relying on fixed-term leases, so of course that's going to end up being an investment benefit." According to Nova Scotia's Residential Tenancies Act, a fixed-term lease is entered into for a fixed period of time, with a set end date. This means it doesn't automatically renew every year and landlords can decide whether or not to offer an existing tenant a new lease. Although the province has a temporary five per cent rent cap for existing tenants, fixed-term leases have been criticized by housing advocates as a way around this legislation, allowing landlords to force tenants out and increase prices more than five per cent for new renters. The Nova Scotia Association of Realtors declined to comment on why this type of lease is attractive for property buyers, and why it might be advertised as an asset of a property being listed for sale. It referred CBC News to Rental Housing Providers Nova Scotia, a group that has defended the use of fixed-term leases as a way to mitigate risk when renting to tenants like students, newcomers or people with bad credit or no landlord references. Kevin Russell, executive director of Rental Housing Providers Nova Scotia, said he can't comment on how Realtors market their product — "that's up to them and the owners" — but he said fixed-term leases play an important role in the rental market. "It's difficult to rent when there's no credit history and no landlord references. So they're used to [mitigate] any risk." Russell referenced research done by his organization in 2023 and 2024 that found 86.1 per cent of landlords who responded use fixed-term leases, with top reasons being risk management, limiting property damage and establishing landlord-tenant relationships. The survey found 53.9 per cent of respondents would sell units if fixed-term leases were eliminated or altered. "It will result in thousands of units being unavailable to rent as property owners sell their properties," Russell said. "And a lot of times when we're leasing on fixed-term leases, it's all done … with a partner, with one of the shelter organizations." Russell said the surveys did not ask if landlords chose to use this type of lease to increase profit, recoup costs or circumvent the rent cap. Province says marketing tactic is 'disappointing' An interview request for Jill Balser, the minister in charge of residential tenancies, was declined. "Fixed-term leases, in some situations, work for both tenants and landlords," a government spokesperson said in an emailed statement attributed to Balser. "It is disappointing to see them being used as a marketing tactic." The statement said Balser "strongly suggests" tenants become informed about fixed-term leases before committing to sign one. "I also want to remind tenants there are choices. Periodic leases are another option available," the statement said, before emphasizing the government is focusing on creating more housing to give tenants greater choice in where to live. In mid-May, a provincial official acknowledged that some Nova Scotia landlords are abusing fixed-term leases, but Balser confirmed the following week there are no plans to do anything to help prevent the abuse. "They're aware of the problem," Allenby said. "They have it as a result of a loophole that they created, and now they're telling the whole world they're not going to do anything about it. There is no incentive for a landlord to play by the rules." The provincial government has said there is no data on the use of fixed-term leases. Tenant and landlord groups have been calling for the province to do its own research. "If the Nova Scotia government wanted impartial data on how prevalent this problem is, they have the resources to go out and get it," Allenby said.
CTV News
3 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
‘It's a plague': Advocates renew calls for renoviction bylaw in Kitchener
Local advocates are renewing their calls for a bylaw that would prevent renters from losing their homes and protect them from bad landlords. Known as a 'renoviction,' the term refers to the practice of forcing a tenant out of a building, citing the need for extensive renovations or repairs in the unit. On Monday, more than a dozen people took their fight to Kitchener City Hall, hoping to grab the attention of councillors and city staff. 'People need a renoviction bylaw passed,' said Ryan Murdock, secretary of the Waterloo chapter of the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN). 'They need it passed now. They needed it passed yesterday.' Linda Vos is one of several tenants at 250 Frederick St., who received a renoviction notice earlier this year. While her case was dismissed by the Landlord Tenant Board last week, she said other people in her building aren't as lucky. ACORN RALLY Local housing advocates are renewing their calls for a bylaw in Kitchener that would prevent renters from losing their homes and protect them from bad landlords. (Alexandra Holyk/CTV News) '(The landlords) seem to be targeting the individuals that have lower rents, that have been living in my building for decades,' said Vos. To put the problem into perspective, ACORN said it surveyed 160 tenants in Waterloo Region, with 28 per cent saying they received one or more eviction notices in the last five years. Of those, 54 per cent were notices to vacate for renovations or demolition. 'It's a plague that's really going across the country,' said Murdock. 'And that's why you see other municipalities, other regions stepping up and protecting their citizens, protecting their tenants, and that's what we need Kitchener to do here.' Back in February, city staff told council they needed time to review how similar bylaws worked in other jurisdictions like Hamilton, London and Toronto. They're expected to share their findings in a report at a committee meeting on June 16. 'There's no reason that Kitchener can't do it,' said ACORN's Ken Vogelpohl. 'All we've been hearing is excuses. What we want is some action.' But according to one city councillor, action requires resources – something the city doesn't have. 'The province hasn't provided the tools to us to do that,' said Ward 9 Councillor Debbie Chapman in an interview with CTV News. 'But the fact that these other cities are doing it, I'd love to see Kitchener follow suit.' It's still not clear when a renoviction bylaw could come into force, but advocates say they're not going anywhere until something is done. 'It's time to actually do something,' said Vogepohl. 'We're going to be here. We're going to be at the mics. We're going to be putting more pressure on council to make sure that this happens.'
Hamilton Spectator
29-05-2025
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Tenant group pushes for climate protections in report highlighting extreme heat risks
A Canadian tenant advocacy group says nearly half the renters they surveyed don't have air conditioning, as they press for protections from climate-fuelled extreme heat. A report released by ACORN Canada says affordability was cited as the main barrier to access among the 44 per cent of surveyed tenants who don't have air conditioning. The group says it collected more than 700 responses to the online survey, which was sent to its database of members and tenant contacts. Climate change, driven by the burning of fossil fuels, has cranked up temperatures across Canada and increased the likelihood of dangerous heat waves. The report says just over half of respondents, mostly low- and middle-income renters, identified excessive summer heat as a top maintenance issue for their unit. ACORN Canada has been pushing cities to bring in bylaws that would require landlords to keep their units below a maximum temperature threshold, similar to how they have to keep it heated when it's cold. 'As governments and other actors intensify their efforts to combat climate change, it is critical that tenants have a seat at the table so that tenants' needs and concerns are accounted for and housing strategies include tenant protections so as to not further worsen the housing situation,' said the report, released Wednesday. Toronto is among the cities exploring a maximum temperature bylaw. Council directed staff to report back with possible next steps later this year. The number of days exceeding 30 degrees in Toronto could more than triple by mid-century, from about 20 days to 66 days, according to a staff report prepared for council. Landlord groups have argued a maximum temperature bylaw would prompt building owners to pass on air conditioning costs to tenants through rent increases, which would create additional backlogs at provincial tribunals. Tenant groups argue any maximum temperature bylaws should also be paired with government supports to ensure tenants are not saddled with additional costs. Wednesday's report calls on the federal government to implement a national energy poverty program, modelled after the Ontario Energy Support Program. The monthly benefit program is intended to help low-income tenants cover utility costs and some advocates have suggested it could be topped up in the summer to help cover the costs of running an air conditioner. The ACORN report says federal efforts to decarbonize Canada's homes and buildings have often overlooked tenants who tend to live in older and energy inefficient buildings. About a third of surveyed tenants said they received a rent increase notice when their landlord carried out energy efficiency upgrades, the report said. The report said retrofit incentives backed by the federal government should only be provided if landlords sign anti-evictions agreements and demonstrate how they would benefit the tenant. The government has faced questions about whether public financing has been used by corporate landlords to justify rent hikes and extra utility costs. In response, the previous federal government said any building upgrades financed by the Canadian Infrastructure Bank would, going forward, not be used as a rationale to increase rent. It also said the bank's future loan agreements for multi-unit residential building retrofits would include provisions that limit a borrower's ability to hike rents or impose additional utility costs on existing tenants. The housing minister's office did not immediately respond to questions Wednesday about the report. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 28, 2025.
CTV News
28-05-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Tenant group pushes for climate protections in report highlighting extreme heat risks
A cat sleeps in an apartment window beside an air conditioner in Burnaby, B.C. on Saturday, August 5, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck A Canadian tenant advocacy group says nearly half the renters they surveyed don't have air conditioning, as they press for protections from climate-fuelled extreme heat. A report released by ACORN Canada says affordability was cited as the main barrier to access among the 44 per cent of surveyed tenants who don't have air conditioning. The group says it collected more than 700 responses to the online survey, which was sent to its database of members and tenant contacts. Climate change, driven by the burning of fossil fuels, has cranked up temperatures across Canada and increased the likelihood of dangerous heat waves. The report says just over half of respondents, mostly low- and middle-income renters, identified excessive summer heat as a top maintenance issue for their unit. ACORN Canada has been pushing cities to bring in bylaws that would require landlords to keep their units below a maximum temperature threshold, similar to how they have to keep it heated when it's cold. 'As governments and other actors intensify their efforts to combat climate change, it is critical that tenants have a seat at the table so that tenants' needs and concerns are accounted for and housing strategies include tenant protections so as to not further worsen the housing situation,' said the report, released Wednesday. Toronto is among the cities exploring a maximum temperature bylaw. Council directed staff to report back with possible next steps later this year. The number of days exceeding 30 degrees in Toronto could more than triple by mid-century, from about 20 days to 66 days, according to a staff report prepared for council. Landlord groups have argued a maximum temperature bylaw would prompt building owners to pass on air conditioning costs to tenants through rent increases, which would create additional backlogs at provincial tribunals. Tenant groups argue any maximum temperature bylaws should also be paired with government supports to ensure tenants are not saddled with additional costs. Wednesday's report calls on the federal government to implement a national energy poverty program, modelled after the Ontario Energy Support Program. The monthly benefit program is intended to help low-income tenants cover utility costs and some advocates have suggested it could be topped up in the summer to help cover the costs of running an air conditioner. The ACORN report says federal efforts to decarbonize Canada's homes and buildings have often overlooked tenants who tend to live in older and energy inefficient buildings. About a third of surveyed tenants said they received a rent increase notice when their landlord carried out energy efficiency upgrades, the report said. The report said retrofit incentives backed by the federal government should only be provided if landlords sign anti-evictions agreements and demonstrate how they would benefit the tenant. The government has faced questions about whether public financing has been used by corporate landlords to justify rent hikes and extra utility costs. In response, the previous federal government said any building upgrades financed by the Canadian Infrastructure Bank would, going forward, not be used as a rationale to increase rent. It also said the bank's future loan agreements for multi-unit residential building retrofits would include provisions that limit a borrower's ability to hike rents or impose additional utility costs on existing tenants. The housing minister's office did not immediately respond to questions Wednesday about the report. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 28, 2025. Jordan Omstead, The Canadian Press
Winnipeg Free Press
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Tenant group pushes for climate protections in report highlighting extreme heat risks
A Canadian tenant advocacy group says nearly half the renters they surveyed don't have air conditioning, as they press for protections from climate-fuelled extreme heat. A report released by ACORN Canada says affordability was cited as the main barrier to access among the 44 per cent of surveyed tenants who don't have air conditioning. The group says it collected more than 700 responses to the online survey, which was sent to its database of members and tenant contacts. Climate change, driven by the burning of fossil fuels, has cranked up temperatures across Canada and increased the likelihood of dangerous heat waves. The report says just over half of respondents, mostly low- and middle-income renters, identified excessive summer heat as a top maintenance issue for their unit. ACORN Canada has been pushing cities to bring in bylaws that would require landlords to keep their units below a maximum temperature threshold, similar to how they have to keep it heated when it's cold. 'As governments and other actors intensify their efforts to combat climate change, it is critical that tenants have a seat at the table so that tenants' needs and concerns are accounted for and housing strategies include tenant protections so as to not further worsen the housing situation,' said the report, released Wednesday. Toronto is among the cities exploring a maximum temperature bylaw. Council directed staff to report back with possible next steps later this year. The number of days exceeding 30 degrees in Toronto could more than triple by mid-century, from about 20 days to 66 days, according to a staff report prepared for council. Landlord groups have argued a maximum temperature bylaw would prompt building owners to pass on air conditioning costs to tenants through rent increases, which would create additional backlogs at provincial tribunals. Tenant groups argue any maximum temperature bylaws should also be paired with government supports to ensure tenants are not saddled with additional costs. Wednesday's report calls on the federal government to implement a national energy poverty program, modelled after the Ontario Energy Support Program. The monthly benefit program is intended to help low-income tenants cover utility costs and some advocates have suggested it could be topped up in the summer to help cover the costs of running an air conditioner. The ACORN report says federal efforts to decarbonize Canada's homes and buildings have often overlooked tenants who tend to live in older and energy inefficient buildings. About a third of surveyed tenants said they received a rent increase notice when their landlord carried out energy efficiency upgrades, the report said. Monday Mornings The latest local business news and a lookahead to the coming week. The report said retrofit incentives backed by the federal government should only be provided if landlords sign anti-evictions agreements and demonstrate how they would benefit the tenant. The government has faced questions about whether public financing has been used by corporate landlords to justify rent hikes and extra utility costs. In response, the previous federal government said any building upgrades financed by the Canadian Infrastructure Bank would, going forward, not be used as a rationale to increase rent. It also said the bank's future loan agreements for multi-unit residential building retrofits would include provisions that limit a borrower's ability to hike rents or impose additional utility costs on existing tenants. The housing minister's office did not immediately respond to questions Wednesday about the report. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 28, 2025.
