November 19, 2024
With all party platforms released, the Nova Scotia Liberals are standing out as the only party with a comprehensive plan to protect renters and bring down skyrocketing rent costs.
“The housing crisis is one of the most pressing issues facing Nova Scotians today. Our goal is to make sure no Nova Scotian pays more than 30% of their income on housing,” said Liberal Leader Zach Churchill. “Tim Houston has ignored renters, leaving families to fend for themselves in an overheated market. And while we agree with the NDP on some of their housing policies, they just don’t go far enough. Our plan is the only one that strikes the balance of strong renter protections with necessary incentives to build more housing.”
The Nova Scotia Liberal plan includes:
- Immediate Rent Relief: Everyone experiences emergencies–and that shouldn’t cause people to worry about losing their home. A Nova Scotia Liberal government will establish a Rent Bank, a low-cost, high-value program that can provide quick turnaround, zero-interest loans to renters that find themselves stuck.
- Better Rent Control: Right now, Tim Houston can change the rent cap on a whim–and that’s bad for everyone. A Nova Scotia Liberal government will implement a fairer system where the cap is based on inflation, market conditions, and vacancy rates on a regional basis until adequate housing supply is reached and there is a healthy vacancy rate of 3%.
- Closing the Fixed-Term Lease Loophole: A Nova Scotia Liberal government would end fixed-term lease abuse by ensuring that landlords cannot offer tenants fixed term leases longer than one year. Extensions beyond the fixed term would automatically transition the lease to month-to-month.
- Reversing the Harsh Cuts to the Rental Supplement: In 2023, Tim Houston raised the cut-off for rental supplements from the 30% it was under the previous Liberal government to 50%. A Nova Scotia Liberal government would reverse that.
- Establishing a Residential Tenancies Enforcement Unit: Despite recommendations to establish a Residential Tenancies Enforcement Unit to deal with tenancy disputes–and support from both landlords and tenants to do so–Tim Houston’s government decided not to implement one. A Nova Scotia Liberal government will implement a Residential Tenancies Enforcement Unit.
“While the Conservatives ignore the housing crisis and the NDP offers only half-measures, the Nova Scotia Liberals have a plan that addresses the real challenges head-on,” said Churchill. “This isn’t about empty promises–it’s about real results for renters who deserve stability and security that Nova Scotians can count on us to deliver.”