Living in Nova Scotia and facing major repairs can force renters to find short-term housing or seek compensation. This guide explains tenant rights, landlord duties, and safe steps you can take when repairs make your rental temporarily uninhabitable. It covers how to document problems, request temporary accommodation or reimbursement, when you might move out, and how to apply for dispute resolution if needed. Written for tenants without legal training, the guidance points to official Nova Scotia resources, forms, and timelines so you can act quickly and protect your rights during repairs. Follow the step-by-step how-to and FAQ below to learn when landlords must offer alternatives, how to keep records, and how to apply to the Residential Tenancies Program for help.[1]
Understanding your rights during repairs
In Nova Scotia landlords must maintain rental units to basic habitability standards under the Residential Tenancies Act and can be required to fix issues that affect safety or use of the unit. If repairs make your home unsafe or uninhabitable you may be entitled to temporary housing, reimbursement, or other remedies under the legislation and the Residential Tenancies Program[2]. For guidance on urgent situations and timelines see Emergency Situations and Repairs and for everyday maintenance responsibilities see Routine Repairs in Rental Units. For a clear summary of rights in this province, review Tenant Rights and Landlord Rights in Nova Scotia.
When temporary housing is reasonable
Temporary housing is most commonly required when a repair affects heating, water, electrical safety, major plumbing, or makes the unit legally uninhabitable. Landlords and tenants should try to agree on a quick solution: landlord-provided alternate housing, landlord payment for short-term accommodation, or a negotiated rent reduction while repairs occur. If you cannot reach agreement, use the dispute process with the Residential Tenancies Program to ask for an order for accommodation or compensation.
Common temporary housing options
- Landlord provides an alternative unit or pays accommodation costs while repairs are completed.
- Landlord offers reimbursement or a payment for short-term hotel or rental expenses and requires receipts.
- You arrange short-term housing and keep receipts and photos as evidence to request compensation later.
Example: if a burst pipe floods your unit and makes bedrooms unusable, you can ask the landlord to provide a safe unit or cover hotel costs for the time repairs take. If the landlord refuses, apply to the Residential Tenancies Program with your documentation and a clear request for temporary housing costs or rent adjustment.
Forms and official steps (what to file and when)
Key official forms you may need:
- Application to the Residential Tenancies Program (dispute application): used to ask for an order when you and the landlord cannot agree. Example: file this if you seek reimbursement for hotel costs after emergency flooding.
- Written repair request or notice to landlord: keep copies to show you asked for a fix. Example: send a dated email or letter describing the problem and the date you first noticed it.
Always attach photos, copies of receipts, and a timeline of communications when you file. The Program will use your application and evidence to decide whether temporary housing or compensation is appropriate.
What to document
- Take dated photos and videos of damage or unsafe conditions.
- Keep copies of all written repair requests, emails, and notices.
- Save receipts for any hotel, moving, or rental expenses you paid.
- Note dates and times of phone calls, entry, and work performed.
FAQ
- Do landlords have to provide temporary housing during repairs?
- Not always; landlords must keep units habitable. If repairs make the unit unsafe or uninhabitable they may need to provide temporary accommodation or compensate you, depending on the situation and the Residential Tenancies Act.
- Can I be reimbursed for hotel or moving costs?
- Yes, if the repair made the unit uninhabitable and the landlord did not offer a reasonable solution, you can request reimbursement. Keep receipts and document the situation to support your claim.
- How do I apply for dispute resolution in Nova Scotia?
- File an Application to the Residential Tenancies Program with your evidence and a clear statement of the outcome you want, such as payment for accommodation or a rent reduction.
How-To
- Gather evidence: take dated photos, videos, and keep all receipts and written communications.
- Notify the landlord in writing of the problem and the repairs you need, and request temporary housing or reimbursement.
- Try to negotiate a short-term solution with the landlord, such as an alternate unit or agreed payment for expenses.
- If the landlord does not resolve the issue within a reasonable time, file an application with the Residential Tenancies Program with your documentation.
- Attend any scheduled hearing, bring originals of receipts and photos, and explain the outcome you seek (housing, costs, or rent adjustment).
Help and Support / Resources
- Contact the Residential Tenancies Program - Government of Nova Scotia
- Residential Tenancies Act (Nova Scotia) - official legislation
- Official forms and guides - Government of Nova Scotia
