Bill 180: Residential Tenancies Act (amended)

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. Landlords who currently screen tenants based on no-pet policies or include animal prohibitions in their standard lease agreements will no longer be able to enforce those terms. Day-to-day property management decisions around tenant selection, lease drafting, and handling complaints about animals will need to change. Eviction applications related to pets will face a higher legal bar, meaning landlords will need to document specific harms — such as allergic reactions or dangerous breeds — rather than relying on a blanket no-pet rule.