Bill 258: Renter's Rights Act

This bill directly affects residential landlords operating in Nova Scotia — whether they own a single rental unit or manage a large apartment building. Landlords can only raise rent once per year, capped at the provincial CPI guideline, and must give 90 days written notice before any increase. Anyone renting out residential properties must now ensure units maintain at least 21°C in winter and no more than 26°C from June through September, allow tenants to have pets (with reasonable conditions), and cannot charge more than what was charged to the previous tenant when a new tenant moves in. Corporate landlords face fines up to $500,000 or 2% of annual revenue for violations, while individual landlords face fines up to $50,000, with a minimum fine equal to one year's rent per non-compliant unit.