Bill 175: Protection of Renters from Unfair Practices Act

This bill directly affects residential landlords in Nova Scotia — whether they own a single rental unit, a small multi-unit building, or a larger apartment complex. Day-to-day, landlords will need to track their rent history carefully, as rent charged to a new tenant cannot exceed what was charged to the previous one, effectively eliminating vacancy decontrol. Landlords wanting to raise rents above CPI — for example, after a major roof repair or elevator upgrade — must apply to the Director at least 90 days in advance with invoices, contracts, and amortization schedules. Corporate landlords face particularly steep fines (up to $500,000 or 2% of annual revenue) for non-compliance, and all landlords are now prohibited from banning pets, must offer month-to-month renewals at the end of fixed-term leases, and must give 90 days written notice before any rent increase.