Tenants need permanent rent control after a year of pandemic stress

HALIFAX -- The NDP is renewing its call for permanent rent control in Nova Scotia. Today, March 1, marks a full year for tenants paying rent during the state of emergency. When COVID-19 arrived in Nova Scotia, April’s rent was the first major financial hurdle for many people.

“We’ve heard from so many people who struggled to cover the rent while dealing with loss of income due to the pandemic,” said NDP Housing spokesperson Lisa Roberts. “The stress of COVID-19 is huge for everyone but when you’re facing uncontrolled rent increases or the threat of eviction it is that much harder. The Liberal government has done the bare minimum for renters. Nova Scotians need permanent rent control to ensure they don’t face massive rent increases when the state-of-emergency is lifted.”

Even before the pandemic, one-fifth of all households in the province spent 50 per cent or more of their income on rent and utilities. Since last year, the average price to rent a one-bedroom apartment in Halifax has gone up by 20 per cent.

Garry Williams, an artist and renter in Halifax Needham saw his rent increase by $400 a month last May.

“It was really shocking in the first months of everything being shut down to be told our rent was going to increase by so much,” said Williams. “Because so much of my work was cancelled right away I had to rely on CERB to pay my bills and there was so much uncertainty around how long that program would be available. Tenants really need rent control and better protections to ensure they don’t end up stuck with an increase they can’t afford.”

The NDP will re-table legislation to create permanent rent control in Nova Scotia, as well as continue to fight for more affordable housing options and legislation that would recognize access to housing as a human right.

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