As renters face uphill battles, New Democrats push for protections and enforcement

HALIFAX – The NSNDP is calling on the Houston government to create an enforcement unit, end the abuse of fixed-term leases, and implement real rent control as renters continue to push for fairness within the Residential Tenancies system.

Julia Anctil spent almost a year fighting illegal eviction attempts in Residential Tenancies hearings and Small Claims Court. Although she eventually won her court case, her landlords will not face any fines or repercussions.

“Unfortunately, there are no mechanisms in place to hold my landlords accountable for bad-faith evictions and abusing the system. I feel like tenancy enforcement only works if renters have the time, knowledge and energy to fight, and that’s not how a just system should work,” said Anctil. “I’ve spent a year of my life fighting this. It’s exhausting to be doing everything right as a renter, and feeling like I have to become a legal expert just to stay in my home.”

Despite recommendations from a $300,000 report and advocacy from both renters and landlords, the Houston government has refused to implement a Residential Tenancies Enforcement Unit.

A Houston government official also recently admitted that they know fixed-term leases are being abused in some cases, but refuse to take action.

“The system is stacked against renters, and the Houston government knows this. Instead of helping by creating a Residential Tenancies Enforcement Unit, ending the abuse of fixed-term leases, and creating real rent control, the Conservatives are making it easier to evict renters. Because of this, rents continue to rise, people are choosing to leave the province, and some are even being forced into homelessness,” said NSNDP Leader Claudia Chender. “A huge number of people in this province rent their homes, and they deserve to have a Residential Tenancies system that works for them, not against them.”

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