The province has reached out some tenants at The Scotian apartment building in Halifax, where some have not had power for more than two weeks.
Some tenants paid rent for Sept. 1, but many are on fixed-term leases.
Some are afraid to file a complaint through the Tenancies Program out of fear their landlord could retaliate.
A spokesperson for Service Nova Scotia says that Minister Jill Balser reached out to encourage them to apply.
“If any tenant is nervous filing an application, there are organizations that can offer support, such as Nova Scotia Legal Aid, Dalhousie Legal Aid, and the Legal Information Society of Nova Scotia. 211 can also help direct people towards programs and services that may help their current situation,” the department wrote in an email on Tuesday.
They say tenants should include in their applications that they have paid rent for September but the landlord is not providing the service they paid for.
They say their applications would be an emergency and get a hearing date sooner.
Although there is a fee of about $31.15 to apply, applicants can ask for a waiver or ask that the other party reimburse them for the fee.
NDP MLA Lisa LaChance, who represents the area, says no one had reached out by Monday, when she was at the apartment, talking to affected residents.
“There’s been no action by the Houston government to protect renters in this situation,” LaChance told our newsroom Monday.
