Singh commits to renoviction ban, fixed-term lease ban to lower rents

HALIFAX—NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh and NDP candidate for Halifax Lisa Roberts were in Halifax Monday to announce a commitment to banning renovictions as well as the price-hiking practice of fixed-term leases where they’re being used to enact massive rent hikes and easy evictions.

“I believe renters should have the kind of security that allows them to put down roots and get involved in their community. No one should have to live with the uncertainty that comes with waiting for the next massive rent hike or a bogus renoviction order. But that’s exactly what renovictions and fixed-term leases do to people. They’re rules that stack the deck in favour of corporate landlords, drive up prices and hurt renters,” said Singh.

In Nova Scotia, fixed-term leases allow corporate landlords to hike the rent an unlimited amount at the end of each term. A renoviction is when a tenant is forced to leave their home for renovations, a loophole that landlords may exploit to evict tenants by spinning a trumped-up renovation story.

The two policies drive up rent prices across the board—including a whopping $1,600 increase under Justin Trudeau in Halifax. The two policies are also at the heart of homelessness for more than one in five unhoused Haligonians.

While running for reelection in 2021, Trudeau promised to end renovictions, but has broken that promise, letting renters down.

Meanwhile, Pierre Poilievre’s Conservative national council, which controls his party, is half lobbyists including real estate lobbyists. His Chief Advisor Jenni Byrne’s company is the lobbyist for corporate landlords. Singh said that explains why Poilievre wants even fewer rules for corporate landlords, giving them the chance to make unlimited profits.

“Over decades, Liberals and Conservatives have designed the housing market to work for corporate landlords, and people are paying the price. But we don’t have to accept it,” said Singh. “We can change the rules and finally build a system that works in renters’ favour. We can use the ressources of Ottawa to pressure municipalities to ban renovictions, and provinces to ban fixed-term leases.

“Together, we can get rents down. We can give renters more security. We can make life more affordable for everyone.”

Hamilton, Ontario has already banned renovictions, as did Nova Scotia briefly in 2020.