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Dalhousie Legal Aid Service, 500/5991 Spring Garden Road, Halifax, NS (2026)

06/19/2026

🏘️ Housing in the News: “Why Halifax is one of the toughest markets for renters, by the numbers”

A story by the CBC goes into the new StatsCan data on Halifax's rental market, confirming what many renters in Halifax already know: this remains one of the most difficult rental markets in the country.

Halifax has the lowest turnover rate and the lowest vacancy rate among the major cities analyzed. But one statistic stands out: the vacancy rate for the least expensive units is below 1%. 📉

That's important because the vacancy rate doesn't tell us much on its own. But with this new data, we can see that the units sitting vacant are often the most expensive ones. For renters looking for affordable housing, there is still virtually no availability.

The report also highlights Halifax's unusually low turnover rate. CMHC suggests one reason is that tenants are reluctant to leave units protected by the rent cap, since moving often means paying substantially higher rent elsewhere.

So if the government's housing strategy depends on tenants moving into newer, more expensive units and freeing up older, more affordable apartments, what happens when most people simply can't afford to make that move?

For years, governments have relied on a "trickle-down" theory of housing, arguing that enough market-rate construction will eventually improve affordability throughout the system. The data continues to suggest otherwise.

Even after years of record apartment construction, Halifax remains one of the least affordable rental markets in Canada. According to Statistics Canada, average asking rents for two-bedroom apartments increased another 5.4% over the last year, while Toronto saw rents decline.

Now, the government is floating the idea of removing the rent cap at the end of 2027 - meanwhile, renters are already being forced to dedicate huge portions of their income to housing. One student interviewed for the article reported paying 60% of his monthly income toward rent while sharing a home with four other people.

The problem facing Halifax is not simply a lack of housing. It is a lack of housing that people can actually afford.

📰 You can read more on the CBC's website.

06/18/2026

🏘️ Housing in the News: “Halifax woman faced 'demoviction' from apartment while case was before tenancy program”

Shailagh Benteau had lived in her apartment for seven years. Several months ago, her landlord, RC Jane Properties, told tenants the building would have to be emptied so it could be demolished and redeveloped. After Shailagh refused to sign an agreement to move out (Form DR5), her landlord applied to terminate her tenancy so the building could be demolished and redeveloped.

A hearing was held on June 3rd, but when Shailagh arrived home on June 10th, the power had been disconnected and a large hole had been torn through the exterior wall. Police advised her the building was no longer safe to occupy.

Two days later, the Residential Tenancies Officer issued their decision. The order found that, while the landlord could eventually terminate the tenancy for demolition, Shailagh didn't have to leave her unit until September 30th. But by then, the building had already been destroyed and Shailagh had been forced to move her belongings and her two cats to a family members' home.

As DLAS' Sydnee Blum told the CBC, the landlord's actions were "a direct contravention" of the order and "absolutely an unlawful demoviction."

Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident. In recent years we have seen other cases where landlords have demolished buildings while tenants were still waiting for eviction decisions. We have also seen landlords begin demolition work around occupied units, remove services, and force tenants to live in construction zones while proceedings are ongoing.

The Residential Tenancies Act only works if there are consequences when it is violated.

Whether enforcement comes from the Residential Tenancies Program, the municipality, or both, there must be meaningful accountability when landlords ignore tenancy orders. Otherwise, we are sending the message that landlords can violate the law, disregard a Director's Order, and face no consequences.

Shailagh's tenant union, Nova Scotia ACORN, held a rally on Tuesday in support of Shailagh and demanding consequences for RC Jane Properties.

📰 You can read more on the CBC's website.

06/16/2026

🚨 Is Nova Scotia going to lose its rent cap?

In a recent appearance on NS Today, Premier Tim Houston signalled that his government's plan is to phase out rent control.

Responding to a senior worried about what will happen when the cap expires, Houston said that “the long-term plan is still to get the government out of that business” and to “phase out that rental cap in a methodical way.”

The government's position is that building more housing will eventually create a "balancing effect" on rents. But that's cold comfort for tenants wondering whether they'll still be able to afford their homes next year.

For many renters, the rent cap has been the difference between staying housed and being priced out. Seniors on fixed incomes, low-wage workers, families, and people with disabilities can't afford to wait and hope the market lowers rents someday. If the rent cap disappears, many renters who have been protected from dramatic rent hikes could see their rents "normalize" toward current market rates - even as wages and income supports continue to lag behind the rising cost of living.

As we approach the one-year countdown to the rent cap's expiration, tenants deserve answers:
- What happens to renters whose housing is only affordable because of the cap?
- What protections will exist against sudden rent hikes in the future?
- How will people on fixed incomes keep up if rents "normalize" to market rates?

The government should not be allowed to quietly phase out one of the few protections keeping people housed. Nova Scotia is already in a housing crisis, removing the rent cap could make it worse.

❓ What do you think? Should Nova Scotia keep the cap, or is it time to phase it out?

06/16/2026

📑 RESEARCH PROJECT: “RACE AND GENDER IN NOVA SCOTIA’S CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: ANALYZING THE EXPERIENCES OF BLACK WOMEN IN THE PROVINCE’S CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES”

Are you a Black woman, 18 years or older, who has been incarcerated in one of
Nova Scotia’s Provincial Correctional Facilities?
a) Between January 1st, 2021, and December 31st, 2025, and
b) For at least seven consecutive days?

We would like to hear from you about your experiences while you were in prison and what it is like for you returning to the community from prison.

If you are interested in participating in the study, you will be given a $50.00 gift card to Sobey’s or Walmart. You will also be reimbursed, by gift card or bus tickets, if you travel to meet the researcher for the interview.

To learn more about the project you can contact the Principal Investigator,
Dr. Tiffany Gordon, at [email protected] or (902) 492 - 5619 ext. 4013.

06/10/2026

🚨 NEW BLOG POST 🚨

"Landmark Ontario Court Decision Expands Legal Rights for People Living in Encampments"

A recent Ontario court decision could have major implications for how municipalities across Canada respond to homelessness and encampments.

In The Regional Municipality of Waterloo v Persons Unknown and to be Ascertained, the Ontario Superior Court ruled that homelessness is an "analogous ground" under section 15 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. In practical terms, this means that people experiencing homelessness may now be protected from discrimination under the Charter in the same way that people are protected based on characteristics such as race, s*x, or religion.

The decision found that the by-law used to remove encampments in Waterloo was discriminatory and violated Charter rights. This is particularly relevant in Nova Scotia, where municipalities have relied on similar by-laws to remove people living in encampments.

Until now, legal challenges to encampment evictions have largely focused on Section 7 Charter rights, which protect life, liberty, and security of the person. Courts have generally allowed encampment evictions where enough shelter spaces were available. This decision introduces a new legal argument: municipalities may also have to show that their laws and enforcement practices are not discriminatory toward people experiencing homelessness.

The ruling could also have broader implications for municipal responsibilities. Future courts may find that governments have a positive obligation to provide adequate supports for people experiencing homelessness, and that failing to do so could amount to discrimination.

While it remains to be seen whether other courts will follow this decision, it has the potential to become one of the most significant expansions of legal protections for people experiencing homelessness in decades.

🔗 Read the full blog post by law student Charles Lesperance at http://www.tenantsrightsguide.ca/blog

06/09/2026

The CMHC's 2026 Mid-Year Rental Market report shows a troubling reality for renters in Halifax: affordability continues to get worse, even as vacancy rates rise.

CMHC found that Halifax has experienced one of the most significant affordability declines in Canada in recent years, noting that affordability ratios are now approaching levels seen in Toronto. At the same time, the report found that many of the new vacancies are concentrated in newer, higher-priced units, while lower-cost rental housing remains extremely difficult to find.

The report also challenges the idea that a 3% vacancy rate automatically signals a healthy rental market. CMHC's analysis suggests Halifax's "balanced" vacancy range is closer to 3–4.5%, and even with vacancy rates increasing, Halifax remained below that range in 2025. More importantly, vacancy rates tell us little about whether available units are actually affordable.

This is an important reminder that vacancy rates alone are not a measure of a healthy rental market. For many renters, the challenge isn't finding a unit - it's finding one they can actually afford.

The report also notes that affordability for existing tenants has worsened compared to a year ago, despite changes in overall market conditions.

As rents continue to rise and affordable options remain scarce, tenant protections like Nova Scotia's rent cap are the only thing protecting low-income tenants and people in affordable units from being priced out of the market. Preserving existing affordable housing is just as important as building new supply, especially when the government's "trickle down affordable housing" approach means new construction remains out of reach for low- and moderate-income renters.

A healthy rental market is one where people can afford to stay in their homes and communities - not just one with vacant luxury rentals.

06/08/2026

Last week, our Community Legal Worker, Dr. Hannah Main, presented at the National Action Committee on Access to Justice conference in Ottawa on our report, Human Rights in a Housing Crisis.

A key focus of the discussion was the growing use of fixed-term leases in Nova Scotia. Dr. Main shared research from the report showing that in 2025, fixed-term leases became the most common type of lease signed in the province.

The presentation highlighted how fixed-term leases can erode access to justice for tenants and create a two-tiered rental market - a concern that is increasingly receiving national attention.

🔗 Read the full report, Human Rights in a Housing Crisis, on our website: https://www.tenantsrightsguide.ca/tenant-survey

05/28/2026

🚨 NEW! Clinic Schedule and Services

Our Social Justice Clinic is changing our operations to meet the increasing volume of inquiries and to be able to triage and most effectively serve people based on the severity of their issue.

📅 We are still holding drop-in appointments Tuesday afternoons from 1-3:30 PM - however, in addition to this we are now offering more phone appointment slots on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon for people outside the HRM or who cannot otherwise access drop-ins.

We receive dozens of calls every week with questions about Residential Tenancies and ESIA. Now, instead of being directed to a drop-in time, callers will be connected to our Legal Intake Coordinator, who can triage your question and often give you answers and resources right over the phone! ☎ You can also complete a self assessment here: https://www.tenantsrightsguide.ca/clinic-evaluation

📑 For people with complex or urgent issues, we now have scheduled appointments on Wednesday afternoons where you can meet directly with a Community Legal Worker and Law Student and get assessed for legal representation ASAP.

For all issues, you can call our Legal Intake Coordinator at 902-423-2627 to get assessed

More information about the social justice clinic is on our website: https://www.tenantsrightsguide.ca/social-justice-clinic

05/27/2026

🏘️ Important Recent Small Claims Decision: Lease rules charging “move-out & cleaning fees” violate the Residential Tenancies Act and are unenforceable.

In a recent Small Claims Court decision, Panco Construction Ltd. v. Paydar, (2026 NSSM 4), the Court ruled that landlords cannot use lease agreements to override the legal standards in the Residential Tenancies Act.

The case involved a Halifax landlord trying to keep a tenant’s security deposit using a common “move-out checklist” system many renters have seen before, including:
- charging fixed hourly cleaning fees
- charges for scratches or appliance wear
- detailed cleaning requirements far beyond ordinary use
- automatic deductions from security deposits for minor repair issues

The landlord’s lease included pages of preset charges for things like:
- cleaning floors
- cleaning ceilings
- lint in the dryer trap
- scratches on appliances
- “damaged” refrigerator parts
- hourly labour charges for cleaning & repairs

The Court rejected the claim entirely. The adjudicator found these clauses were an attempt to “rewrite the RTA” by replacing the legal standard of "ordinary cleanliness" and "ordinary wear and tear" with a requirement for near perfection.

The decision clearly states these provisions are:
1️⃣ “absolutely contrary to the RTA”
2️⃣ “not enforceable”
3️⃣ “should not be included in any residential lease in Nova Scotia”

The Court also reaffirmed that landlords are not entitled to receive a unit back in exactly the same condition it was in years earlier. Normal living causes wear and tear, and tenants cannot be held financially responsible for ordinary depreciation.

In the end, the tenant received the full return of her $1,100 security deposit.

This is one of the clearest decisions in Nova Scotia confirming that move-out and automatic cleaning charge lists are unlawful.

If your landlord is relying on one of these lists, it’s important to know:
📌 Lease terms cannot override the Residential Tenancies Act - even if you signed and agreed to them
📌 “Ordinary cleanliness” is the legal standard, not “hotel clean”
📌 Tenants are not responsible for ordinary wear and tear, especially over longer tenancies

Note: The price list pictured is one example of many-such types of fee schedules. Urchin Property Management is not associated with the case at hand.

05/12/2026

🏡 Join us for the launch of our Housing Rights for People With Disabilities Project!

For the past few years, DLAS has partnered with and organizations across Canada to do research and create resources aimed at reducing barriers to housing for people with disabilities.

As part of this collaboration - we are launching a resource for renters with disabilities, featuring artwork by Nova Scotian artists renting and living with disabilities.

Join us in-person at the DSU building or via livestream on May 21st at 7pm to hear more about the project, pick up your booklets, and eat and mingle ✨

📆 May 21st at 7pm
📍 Dalhousie Student Union Building, Room 307
🔗 See Eventbrite link to register: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/art-project-launch-housing-rights-for-people-with-disabilities-tickets-1988912220993?aff=oddtdtcreator

Accessibility Information:
♿ Mobility: The event is on the 3rd floor of the building. There is a public elevator with large buttons and braille, accessible through the University Avenue building entrance. The University Avenue entrance has a push-button automatic door opener.

🚽 Washrooms: There are 2 individual, gender-neutral washrooms on the 3rd floor near the meeting room, as well as gendered washrooms with stalls. There are accessible stalls, as well as single-stall washrooms that can accommodate a variety of mobility devices.

🚎 Transport and parking: Halifax Transit buses 4, 10A, 10B, and 10C stop outside the building on LeMarchant Street. There is no parking at the building. There is accessible parking at the Killam Library, approx 150 metres from the DSU. There is street parking on surrounding streets.

🦠Airborne Illnesses: This is not a mask mandatory event, however, masks will be provided and two HEPA air filters will be running. The space is mostly enclosed, with a single doorway that will be open for airflow. Windows can also be opened weather-permitting. There is also a livestream option for at-home participation.

👃Scents: This is a scent free event. The DSU is a shared space so guests might be exposed to scented products.

💻Tech: The event will be livestreamed. All speakers will use a microphone.

Dalhousie Legal Aid Service

06/19/2026

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