Achi news desk-
A small group of protesters gathered outside Brendan Maguire’s Nova Scotia constituency office Friday, as Halifax residents demanded the community service minister support legislation to end the use of fixed-term leases across the province.
The picketing event was organized by the Association of Community Organizations Reform Now (ACORN).
Heather Clark, chairwoman of ACORN’s Halifax chapter, said her organization is targeting Maguire’s office because he recently crossed the floor and joined the progressive Conservative caucus.
“Last year, the Progressive Conservatives had an opportunity to ban fixed term leases and they didn’t. Our homeless population went from 200 to over 1,200 people,” he said, as drivers regularly honked their car horns toward the group of chanting advocates.
“They left the city of Halifax and shelters like Beacon House and Adsum House to house these people. That has to stop.”
Heather Clark, Chair of ACORN Halifax Mainland Chapter.
Skye Bryden-Blom
Unlike periodic leases – such as month-to-month or year-to-year – fixed-term leases have specific start and end dates, which means they are not automatically renewed.
Critics have decried fixed-term leases as a “loophole” for landlords to get around the province’s five per cent rent cap, as rent increases do not apply to new tenants.
Clark said “the majority of landlords” only offer fixed term leases.
“They could be using the term lease which allows it to continue from year to year, but landlords don’t,” he continued.
“People are scared. They are terrified that they are going to end up on the streets. They are terrified that they are going to lose their home and they have nowhere to go.”
Clark said tenants face more obstacles than ever when re-entering the rental market after a lease ends.
“If they have to go to a new unit where they have to pay double the rent, that’s going to put more pressure on them,” he said, adding that these circumstances are overwhelming and stressful. increasing on public services.
Breaking news from Canada and around the world sent to your email, as it happens.
“It’s going to cause more people in hospital, more pressure on social housing programs, and other programs that support these people. It creates a very unhealthy society.”
In addition, Clark said there was a timely element to Friday’s ACORN rally. He said that a bill was currently being introduced which could modify the existing legislation which allows the use of fixed term rental agreements.
“The opportunity was there last year but the Conservatives voted against it. We are begging them to approve that bill so that people can live a healthy life without worry and stress in their eyes,” he said, adding that there was additional legislation being considered which could see changes made to the Residential Tenancies Act.
“It would introduce permanent rent control … it’s fair to both sides. Not just for tenants but for landlords too. All these new programs need to be implemented so that people can feel comfortable in their homes and not have to worry about moving from year to year.”
State responds
In response to a Global News request asking if fixed-term leases are becoming more common across the province, Nova Scotia’s provincial government said it cannot provide an accurate estimate.
“We understand the challenges Nova Scotians are facing with the tight rental market,” read an emailed statement from Geoff Tobin, spokesperson for Service Nova Scotia. “Leases or information about leases for tenancies are not collected by the government.”
The response continued to reiterate the province’s focus on increasing housing supply rather than adjusting regulations around the current rental market.
“The answer to these challenges is more housing, and while we work to increase our housing supply, we will continue to listen to tenants and landlords, to assess the best steps we can take to balance the rights of the two,” the statement read.
‘Everyone struggles with it’
Selena, a youth worker who did not give Global News her last name, was in attendance for Friday’s rally. She said she sees an increasing number of young people sleeping rough through her work.
“Not a week goes by where one of the young people I work with isn’t struggling to find a house,” he explained.
“Every week someone loses their stable home due to fixed term leases or illegal evictions. The process is very difficult to navigate, especially if you are someone who has never had to navigate it before.”
Selena described fixed-term leases as a “violation of human rights.”
Housing advocates rally outside Brendan Mcguire’s constituency office on Friday.
Skye Bryden-Blom
“Everyone deserves to have a safe home and a roof over their head,” she said, adding that she would also like to see more affordable housing available across the province.
Selena added that she has personally experienced the challenges of the current rental market – as she found herself without a place to call her own after her previous home was damaged during the severe flooding that took place in the state last year.
“I was homeless for a few months,” he said. “Everybody struggles with it, wherever you are on the spectrum.”
– with files from Skye Bryden-Blom
& copy 2024 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
