Renters are getting some temporary relief from skyrocketing rent costs and evictions.
The province announced today a cap on residential rent increases, limiting them to 2 per cent annually, as well as a ban on eviction orders for renovations.
Renters across the province have long been battling rising rent prices and ‘Renovictions’, with recent stories highlighting many being forced out of their homes to make way for upgrades to older buildings.
“Too many Nova Scotians are struggling to afford a place they call home,” said Chuck Porter, minister of housing and municipal affairs.
“Now is not the time for people to be worrying about keeping a roof over their heads or being forced to find a new home for their family. Unfortunately, that is exactly the situation many people are in.”
The new protections are set to be enacted immediately, with the rental cap applying retroactively to September 1st of this year – Porter said any renter who saw an increase over 2 per cent since September should approach their landlord for a credit towards December’s rent.
The announcements come only weeks after Porter and the province made claims rent control wouldn’t help the housing crisis.
“This is not about one person’s decision or belief, this is a much bigger issue and is a collective coming together,” said Porter.
“In more recent months we’ve heard how this affects Nova Scotians of many demographics. It is important to act as its getting more difficult. This is a supply issue, and we know that.”
Porter said these protections are being implemented under the Emergency Management Act, and will remain in place until either February 1, 2022, or when the State of Emergency ends.
During that time, he said the newly announced Nova Scotia Affordable Housing Commission will make recommendations on how the province should tackle long term affordable housing.
He said the commission will work closely with experts in the public, private, non-profit and academic sectors, as well as with indigenous first nations to come up with their recommendations.
Porter couldn’t comment on whether or not the provincial government will keep the new protections once they expire, but said something needed to be done right now.
“We know this has been an issue, and putting people on the street right now is not an option,” he said.
“It’s not the time to be doing that. This is about the health and safety of Nova Scotians who are renters, and I believe its am important step for us going forward.”
Porter also announced the province is investing $1.7 million to battle homelessness by replacing 30 beds taken out of shelters due to physical distancing requirements created by COVID-19, however details on what that will look like aren’t available yet.
Porter said more on that will be released in the coming days.
Follow Cody McEachern on Twitter at @CodyInHiFi for more.
