Politicians and activists attacking rental housing providers are the problem, not the solution
The only way we can solve the housing crisis in Nova Scotia is to work together.
Unfortunately, many politicians and self-appointed activists attack the very people who are providing much of the housing in this province.
Since 2020, bad policy after bad policy has made access to housing worse.
Rent control imposed in 2020 was supposed to be a temporary measure.
It was introduced even though in Canada, from 2000 to 2019, rent controlled jurisdictions saw larger rent increases than in Nova Scotia.
The independent Affordable Housing Commission recommended that rent control should be scrapped when the COVID-19 state of emergency was lifted.
Instead, rent control continues to be in place, even as its financial impact caused rents to go up considerably in new builds and smaller housing owner/operators to sell their properties and displace thousands of Nova Scotians.
Rents in Nova Scotia aren’t going up because, as some claim, we have a rent cap, not rent control.
They’re going up because no matter what you call it – rent cap or rent control – the net effect is always more expensive rents. We have seen this in Canada. We have seen this around the world. We will continue to see this in Nova Scotia
As property taxes continue to go up and up and up, without more fiscally prudent government at the municipal level or extending the Capped Assessment Program to apartments at the provincial level, the combination of rent control and higher costs will make rents more expensive in Nova Scotia. We haven’t even factored in the impact of Halifax Water’s proposed 36.6% increase.
Where are the politicians and where are the activists on the real cause of affordability? No solutions. No offer to work with our industry. Just more attacks on the women and men who work in our sector and doubling down on failed policies that have been proven time and again not to work.
Housing supply is starting to increase. Vacancies are starting to increase. The worst possible thing to do now would be to bring the hammer down on rental housing providers and tenants alike with more rent control.
This brings up to the question of fixed term leases – a longtime way to provide flexible housing to those who are often most in need.
First off, contrary to what some politicians, media and activists claim – we know that many of the largest rental housing companies in Nova Scotia don’t use fixed term leases or, if they do, the leases constitute less than five per cent of the overall housing supply. We shared this information to all the politicians last year.
So, who does use fixed term leases? More often than not, smaller and mid-sized operators.
The reason they use it is often to house seniors, students, newcomers, those with no or poor credit history people who need supportive housing from great organizations like Adsum.
The only reason thousands upon thousands of tenants have a roof over their heads is because of fixed term leases.
If certain politicians and activists get their way and fixed term leases are scrapped or restricted, thousands more Nova Scotians will be homeless.
Many operators have told us they will sell their units, keep them empty or convert them to other forms of housing.
Rental Housing Providers Nova Scotia have done our surveys. Groups that target apartment owner/operators like Dalhousie Legal Aid and ACORN have done their surveys.
There is no independent, verifiable data on the extent of fixed term leases in Nova Scotia.
Before any move is made on fixed term leases that could create more homelessness and worsen the housing crisis, government needs to establish independent data on the subject, with a methodology that’s agreeable to both those who provide the rental housing and those who live in rental housing.
Let’s work together and stop the attacks.
Because attacking those who provide the housing is the problem, not the solution.
Contact:
c: Kevin Russell
t: 902-789-0946
e: kevin@rhpns.ca
Link to resource: Politicians and Activists Attacking Rental Housing providers Not the Solution
Topics: Editorials