Halifax Water rate hike will drive up rents, landlords say
“The Rental Housing Providers of Nova Scotia have filed for intervener status in the water utility’s application to the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board.”
Two rate hikes proposed by Halifax Water will drive up rents in the municipality’s already strained housing market, according to an association that represents landlords.
The Rental Housing Providers of Nova Scotia has filed for intervener status in the water utility’s application to the Nova Scotia Regulatory and Appeals Board, submitting a short letter on Monday in which the industry group said it’s “deeply concerned” about the proposed rate changes.
Kevin Russell, executive director of Rental Housing Providers of Nova Scotia, said he’s gathering evidence to make his case to the board.
“It’s just another cost that the industry will have to bear, which ultimately will end up in rents,” Russell said in an interview.
Halifax Water applied to the board earlier this month for rate increases that would come into effect over two years.
The utility is asking for a 16.2 per cent increase in the average residential bill in the 2025 fiscal year, which began April 1, and an additional 17.6 per cent increase in the 2026 fiscal year.
Russell said he doesn’t have exact numbers on how many rental units include water in the rent and how many units require tenants to pay their water bills directly. However, he said the majority of purpose-built rental buildings have water included, while many units in family homes do not. …[Continue Reading]