Honourable Ramona Jennex

c/o Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations

14th Floor North, Maritime Centre
1505 Barrington Street
P.O. Box 2664
Halifax, Nova Scotia
B3J 2M4

Dear Minister Jennex,

Re: Tenant Friendly Reforms to the Residential Tenancies Act

I am writing to express my concerns regarding the Residential Tenancies Act (RTA) as it stands today.
Nova Scotia renters need greater protection under the law. For the RTA to be a fair and balanced piece of
legislation, tenant friendly reforms must be made.

I would like to highlight the amendments proposed by the Tenant Alliance of Nova Scotia (TALONS) for
the RTA. The following is suggested:

Security of Tenure
Security of tenure should be a right of all tenants from the outset of every tenancy agreement,
and not only after living in the same apartment for five years. Please bring Nova Scotia in line
with other provinces and make security of tenure immediate.

Repairs
The Residential Tenancies Division does not currently provide for adequate enforcement of
repairs. There is no follow-up if an order is made for a landlord to provide repairs. If a landlord
fails to comply with an order, the tenant must file a second complaint, again with no guarantee
that their problem will be resolved.
We propose that the RTA be amended to include a mechanism to ensure that orders made by
Residential Tenancies Officers are followed.
Tenants should have remedies of repair and deduct where minor repairs are needed, and rent
withholding where major repairs are needed.

Security Deposits
Currently, security deposits are paid in trust to landlords and often withheld from tenants
illegally after the termination of their leases.
We ask that security deposits be paid in trust to the Residential Tenancies Division, following
the same guidelines as New Brunswick’s Office of the Rentalsman. Landlords who wish to
retain a tenant’s security deposit would then be required to apply to the Residential Tenancies
Division, thereby placing the onus on the landlord instead of the tenant.

I urge the government to bring our province up to par with other Canadian jurisdictions by making all
changes to the RTA proposed by the TALONS. I feel that the modest changes will have a significant impact
in providing greater housing security without placing a significant burden on Nova Scotia tax payers. Nova
Scotians should all enjoy decent, secure, and affordable housing, including those of us who rent our homes.

Sincerely,

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