September 9, 2026
With housing costs continuing to put pressure on Nova Scotian families, the Liberals are continuing their push for action on affordability by tabling three bills today focused on helping people stay housed and making homes safer.
The Parliamentary Budget Officer found that Halifax home prices are now 74 per cent higher than what the average household can afford — a stark measure of just how far housing costs have moved beyond the reach of Nova Scotians.
The Liberals’ Rent Bank Act would establish a provincial rent bank to help low- and moderate-income renters facing a temporary financial crisis. It would provide interest-free loans of up to 36 months to help cover rent arrears, utility bills and other mandatory housing costs, giving people an alternative to high-interest payday loans and helping prevent eviction and homelessness.
“Every day, we hear from people in our constituency offices who would benefit from a rent bank,” said Interim Liberal Leader Iain Rankin. “When housing is already this unaffordable, an unexpected expense shouldn’t be the difference between keeping a roof over your head and losing your home.”
Rankin will also table the Safe Indoor Temperatures Act, requiring certain public and multi-residential buildings, including long term care facilities, to maintain temperatures of 26°C or below during the summer, and amendments to the Residential Tenancies Act requiring carbon monoxide alarms and regular radon testing in rental units.