Frequently Asked Questions :These FAQ are a guide only, the regulations can be found at the links below. click question to expand/contract
Important basic information
The Revenue Canada Act 1999 gives rights and obligations to tenants and landlords.
The Income Tax Act 1985 gives rights and obligations to tenants and landlords.
The Residential Tenancies Act 1989 gives rights and obligations to tenants and landlords.
The Protection of Property Act 1989 gives rights and obligations to tenants landlords guests tradespersons and all other persons entering a property.
Obligations under all applicable Federal Provincial and Local acts statutes and regulations must be, strictly enforced.
about SIN numbers
In the private sector, you must provide your SIN to financial institutions for accounts that pay interest. Canada.ca
The landlord shall credit interest to the tenant on the full amount or value of the security deposit. . . . . RTA 12(4)
All levels of government determine the landlord to be providing interest, the landlord has a statutory obligation to request SINIs there a standard form of lease for a tenancy agreement?
Yes. The Nova Scotia standard form of lease, applies to all tenancies.
A lease is a written or oral tenancy agreement between a landlord and a tenantWhat is a Fixed-Term Lease
A fixed-term lease is a leasing agreement with a specified beginning and ending date. Example: 1st May 2024 to 31st Jul 2024.
It ends on the date in the lease and neither the landlord nor the tenant is required to give written notice to end the tenancy on that date. Landlord consent is required to continue beyond the end dateIf a lease is in writing, does the landlord have to give the tenant a copy?
Yes. The lease must be signed by both the landlord and the tenant.
The landlord must give the tenant a signed copy within ten calendar days, of the earliest of the posession date, signing the lease, or obtaining keys.Is the landlord required to give a copy of the Residential Tenancies Act to the tenant?
Yes. A copy of the Act must be given to the tenant by the landlord within ten calendar days, of the earliest of the posession date, signing the lease, or obtaining keys.Is the tenant required to provide the landlord with the names of other people who are going to live in the premises?
Yes. the landlord must approve every occupant of the premises and their name must be included on the leaseCan a landlord make rules for the premises?
Yes. The rules must be reasonable. The landlord should give a copy of the rules to the tenant prior to the signing of the leaseCan tenants keep pets
The tenant must check the rules for the premises to make sure that pets are allowed. property rules specify the conditions under which pets may be added to the premises.
If the tenant receives consent from the landlord, it is given in writing.Can tenants hang pictures?
No: with a singular exception. Property rules prohibit all modifications to the premises by tenants. Nails may breach fire separations, pierce plumbing or electrical within walls.
Bluetack or stickytack damages paint finishes.
3M 'command adhesive' hooks leave no marks, holes, or residues, these products only may be used to hang picturesCan a tenant refuse to pay rent for any reason?
No. The tenant is always responsible to pay the rent to the landlord.When a notice to quit has been given, does the tenant have to pay the rent?
Yes. Rent must be paid until the end of the tenancy.Do notices to quit have to be in writing?
Yes. The notice to quit is to be in writing.Can a landlord enter the premises
Yes. If:
Entry is by consent. or
There is an emergency. or
The landlord has given written notice of entry and the entry is during daylight hours.
What are daylight hours?
Daylight Hours are from 8:00 in the morning to 8:00 at night. What is a security deposit?
A security deposit is a payment by the tenant to the landlord to be held in a trust account until the end of the tenancy against costs.
How much can a landlord collect as a security deposit?
The security deposit cannot be any more than one half of one month's rent.When should the security deposit and interest be returned to the tenant?
Within 10 days after the end of the tenancy.
The time does not start from the time the tenant moves out.
Tenants should give the landlord an address where the security deposit is to be sent.How can a landlord evict a tenant?
(i) If the rent is fifteen(15) days late, The landlord may issue a notice to quit. If the tenant does not make application to dispute the notice to quit, the tenant is evicted on the date of the notice to quit. or
(ii) If the tenant breaks any of the statutory conditions in the Act. The tenant can be evicted more quicklyIs there any dispute resolution process for tenancies?
Where there is any dispute both parties should try to amicably resolve the matter or,
either tenant or landlord may make application to the Residential Tenancies Board.
A tenancy hearing can be held to resolve almost any problemIs Tenant Insurance Compulsory
Yes The RTA contains a paragraph R.S.,c.401,s,1.8(1)
In addition to the statutory conditions, a landlord and tenant may provide in a standard form of lease for other benefits and obligations which do not conflict with this Act.
All Dockrey Apartments leases contain the requirement for tenant insurance, at paragraph fourteen(14) of the Standard form of lease.
Tenant insurance is compulsory in all Dockrey Apartments properties.My fuses keep blowing, Why
Unplug something.
Electrical circuits are fused with 15amp fuses, the maximum safe load to prevent wiring fires.
If two devices that draw 10A each are plugged in and turned on at the same time, the circuit blows.
Power boards, plug strips, double adaptors, add extra sockets but do not add extra capacity, there can only be enough to draw 15 amps.
Kitchen devices are the most common cause of blown fuses,
1000W each: microwave; toaster; kettle; minioven; cannot co-exist on the same circuit at the same time.
If the 15 amp circuit fuse blows, but the 10 amp power board doesn't, it indicates the power board is dangerous, not properly made
NSPower, electricians, & inspectors recommend power boards not be used.What is rent to own Dockrey Apartments Rent2own Generic Canadian Information, rent to own
I do not have a written lease or a copy of the Residential Tenancies Act
The landlord has a duty to provide the RTA and copy of the lease
7(3) Where a landlord fails to provide a copy or reproduction of this Act in accordance with subsection(1) or a copy of a written lease in accordance with subsection(2) the tenant
at any time before the tenant receives a copy or reproduction of this Act or the written lease from the landlord; or
within one month after the tenant receives a copy or reproduction of this Act or the written lease from the landlord
may give notice to the landlord that the tenant will quit and deliver up the premises on a specified day within a period of three months from the day the notice is given.
NS.Rs.c.1989,c401.7(1) 7(2) 7(3)Links to Nova Scotia Government