Latest news with #ResidentialTenancies
CBC
15-05-2025
- Business
- CBC
Minister has no plans to address so-called fixed-term lease loophole
Nova Scotia's minister responsible for the Residential Tenancies Act denies her government is providing landlords with a way around the provincial rent cap, but she also confirmed Thursday there are no plans to do anything that would help prevent the abuse of fixed-term leases. Jill Balser told reporters following a cabinet meeting in Halifax that the cap on rent increases created disruptions to the housing market and her government doesn't want to make any other changes that could further affect supply at a time when vacancy rates are showing signs of improvement. "For us at this point in time, the focus on supply is changing the housing market," she said. "So knowing that Nova Scotians will have choice is really our focus." 'Now they have options' Balser said renters are beginning to have more choices about where to live, with some landlords offering incentives to sign a lease as the vacancy rate increases in some cases. "If a particular unit is not where they want to be or perhaps it's a lease that they don't necessarily want to sign, now they have options and that's really the environment and the place that we want to get to." It's important that people ask questions and know what they're getting into before signing a lease, said Balser. For people who find themselves in a situation where they think the rules are being broken, the residential tenancies program is there to help, she said. The provincial rent cap applies to a unit as long as a tenant with a periodic lease lives there. When they move out, rents can be adjusted above the five per cent cap. However, there is a prevailing concern among housing advocates that some landlords are switching tenants to fixed-term leases because it is easier to move those tenants out for a new tenant, for whom the cap would not apply. Interim Liberal Leader Derek Mombourquette said there is no reason for the government to continue to allow abuse to happen without any kind of response. "I don't buy this idea that there are these unforeseen circumstances if they don't correct this," he told reporters. "They could act on this, they could support a lot of people across this province, and they won't." NDP housing critic Susan Leblanc said Balser's explanation for why her government will not address concerns about fixed-term leases "doesn't make any sense." "People come into my office every single day worried about getting evicted or not being able to find a place to live when their fixed-term lease runs out. So the government's focus does not seem to be on them," she told reporters. "I don't know where it is, but we need to focus on the people who are most vulnerable."
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Lack of rent control in N.W.T. to be reassessed this year, minister says
Northwest Territories ministers have responded to criticism over recent big rent increases of hundreds of dollars for some Housing N.W.T. owned units. Last month, rent increase notices were sent out to residents who rent market-rate units from Housing N.W.T. Housing N.W.T. has said they wanted to better match unit rent rates with territorial averages. However since there haven't been rent increases to their market units since 2012, residents will see their rent go up anywhere from around $300 to over $700. The market-rate units in small communities are typically occupied by essential workers such as teachers and healthcare workers or community members. Housing Minister Lucy Kuptana said increasing the rents was a "tough but necessary decision" in a statement to CBC. She said the adjustment was crucial to maintain fairness in the housing market, and the additional revenue is needed because of declining federal support. "No one wants to increase rental rates, but with increasing cost and decreasing operating funding, we needed to make this hard decision so that we can continue to offer housing programs. Heating costs are included, along with maintenance and repairs," the statement reads. Justice Minister Jay Macdonald wrote in a statement that the territory has also explored implementing some form of rent control in the past, and will soon be revisiting those discussions. "Given the issues raised by the Rental Office and other stakeholders, the Department of Justice has committed to a new, thorough review of the [Residential Tenancies] Act, in 2025," wrote MacDonald. "The issue of rent control will be re-evaluated as part of this review, ensuring that we address current challenges and consider all perspectives." Many of Canada's provinces and the Yukon have some form of rent increase caps, but the N.W.T. does not. MacDonald said the government looked into rent cap measures a few years ago, during the 17th Legislative Assembly, when they did a review of the Residential Tenancy Act. But they ultimately decided against them. "[That] decision was based on research, experiences in other jurisdictions, and the unique housing situation in the N.W.T.," wrote MacDonald. Rent increase limits typically apply to all landlords in a jurisdiction, and would likely apply to Housing N.W.T. as well as private landlords. Kuptana concluded her statement by saying that other supports are currently of the supports she mentioned was the Canada-NWT Housing Benefit, which can provide up to $800 a month for eligible residents who pay over 30 per cent of their gross income in rent. "This benefit is here to support people who may be affected by the recent rent change. If you think you might qualify, I encourage you to apply or reach out to the Housing N.W.T. team for more information."
CBC
06-05-2025
- Business
- CBC
Lack of rent control in N.W.T. to be reassessed this year, minister says
Northwest Territories ministers have responded to criticism over recent big rent increases of hundreds of dollars for some Housing N.W.T. owned units. Last month, rent increase notices were sent out to residents who rent market-rate units from Housing N.W.T. Housing N.W.T. has said they wanted to better match unit rent rates with territorial averages. However since there haven't been rent increases to their market units since 2012, residents will see their rent go up anywhere from around $300 to over $700. The market-rate units in small communities are typically occupied by essential workers such as teachers and healthcare workers or community members. Housing Minister Lucy Kuptana said increasing the rents was a "tough but necessary decision" in a statement to CBC. She said the adjustment was crucial to maintain fairness in the housing market, and the additional revenue is needed because of declining federal support. "No one wants to increase rental rates, but with increasing cost and decreasing operating funding, we needed to make this hard decision so that we can continue to offer housing programs. Heating costs are included, along with maintenance and repairs," the statement reads. Justice Minister Jay Macdonald wrote in a statement that the territory has also explored implementing some form of rent control in the past, and will soon be revisiting those discussions. "Given the issues raised by the Rental Office and other stakeholders, the Department of Justice has committed to a new, thorough review of the [Residential Tenancies] Act, in 2025," wrote MacDonald. "The issue of rent control will be re-evaluated as part of this review, ensuring that we address current challenges and consider all perspectives." Many of Canada's provinces and the Yukon have some form of rent increase caps, but the N.W.T. does not. MacDonald said the government looked into rent cap measures a few years ago, during the 17th Legislative Assembly, when they did a review of the Residential Tenancy Act. But they ultimately decided against them. "[That] decision was based on research, experiences in other jurisdictions, and the unique housing situation in the N.W.T.," wrote MacDonald. Rent increase limits typically apply to all landlords in a jurisdiction, and would likely apply to Housing N.W.T. as well as private landlords. Kuptana concluded her statement by saying that other supports are currently of the supports she mentioned was the Canada-NWT Housing Benefit, which can provide up to $800 a month for eligible residents who pay over 30 per cent of their gross income in rent. "This benefit is here to support people who may be affected by the recent rent change. If you think you might qualify, I encourage you to apply or reach out to the Housing N.W.T. team for more information."
