The organization managing government-owned public housing in Nova Scotia has reported that 222 out of its 12,000 households are under fixed-term leases, prompting concerns from a legal professional.
A fixed-term lease is a rental agreement that expires on a specific date and does not automatically renew, giving landlords the ability to change tenants without needing a reason or going through an eviction process.
While some landlords view fixed-term leases as a low-risk trial period for tenants with poor rental records, advocates for tenants have criticized the practice for removing the security of tenure.
Nora MacIntosh, a lawyer with Nova Scotia Legal Aid, expressed surprise at the use of fixed-term leases by the Nova Scotia Provincial Housing Agency, stating that it contradicts the fundamental goal of public housing to offer safe, consistent, and supportive living conditions.
MacIntosh raised concerns that tenants might be pressured into signing fixed-term leases as a way to bypass the formal eviction process, leaving vulnerable individuals with low incomes at a heightened risk of losing their housing.
CBC News uncovered the usage of fixed-term leases by the provincial housing agency in a spring 2025 briefing note prepared for Jill Balser, the minister overseeing the province’s residential tenancies program. The briefing note was obtained by CBC through a freedom of information request.
A spokesperson for the agency confirmed that approximately three percent of households are under this type of lease.
“This practice has been used sparingly within the public housing program since 2003, typically to provide second chances for applicants who are ineligible due to rental arrears, behavioral issues, or lack of a landlord reference,” mentioned Kelli MacDonald in an email.
MacIntosh expressed concerns regarding the misuse of fixed-term leases, highlighting the exploitation of the power dynamics between landlords and tenants.
CBC requested an interview with Pamela Menchenton, the director of client services at the Nova Scotia Provincial Housing Agency, but she was unavailable for comment.
‘Probationary period’
MacIntosh argued that fixed-term leases should only be used when agreed upon mutually by landlords and tenants, not as a form of “probationary period.”
Given the current waitlist for housing standing at 8,200 people, many individuals are desperate for affordable housing and may feel compelled to sign any lease offered to them.
She emphasized that using fixed-term leases as a probationary period, especially for marginalized individuals reliant on public housing as a last resort, creates housing instability by failing to provide them with tenure security.
