Bill 220: Protecting Renters from Unfair Practices Act

This bill directly affects anyone who owns and rents out residential properties in Nova Scotia — from solo landlords renting out a basement suite to property management companies overseeing large apartment buildings. Day-to-day, landlords will need to track CPI-based rent increase limits each year, give 90 days written notice before any rent increase, and get Director approval before charging above-guideline increases for capital improvements or rising utility costs. Vacancy control means that when a tenant moves out, the next tenant's rent is capped at what the previous tenant paid — eliminating the common practice of resetting rents between tenancies. Corporations face especially steep fines of up to $500,000 or 2% of annual revenue for non-compliance, making this a significant compliance burden for larger residential landlords and property management firms operating in Nova Scotia.