Like most things happening at City Hall lately, commercial tax changes have been a long time in the making. What started as a 2015 request—to look at concerns from small businesses in the central business district and main street and commercial corridors—came to the committee of the whole this week. It left with an amendment […]
Renting
Posted inNews + Opinion
City plans to make an online registry of landlords
H alifax city council is preparing to create a mandatory registry for rental properties in Halifax that will show you their basic information and by-law violation record. An amendment to by-law M-200 was approved Tuesday to increase compliance with new standards. Almost three years ago, M-200 was passed to redefine standards for rental properties. On […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Tenants organize against Park Victoria’s pest problem
Tenants at Park Victoria are fed up with broken promises to resolve an infestation of pests including ants, cockroaches and bed bugs throughout the south end apartment building Y. Park, a long-time tenant at 1333 South Park Street, has been living with the problem for weeks inside his apartment. But he’s not alone. “There are […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Rent control idea frozen out, along with Nova Scotian tenants
Rent control could be a step in the right direction for Nova Scotia but some think it won’t be enough to address poverty and housing affordability. The NDP proposed new rent control legislation last month that would see rent increases capped at 0.8 percent for the first year, and become negotiable after that. During Jagmeet […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Falling through the tenancy cracks
International students in Halifax say they’re being taken advantage of by one of the city’s largest property rental companies, which seemingly as official policy uses leases in breach of the Tenancy Act for non-Canadian tenants. Jianing Xu says she was asked by Killam Properties to pay rent for her Cathedral Lane apartment in three-month increments. […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Curb-side enthusiasm: a guide to sorting your garbage
FIRST THINGS FIRSTThe city has a kick-ass app for garbage collection that will send you notifications reminding you when to put yours out, and what exactly you should be kicking to the curb. It’s a game-changer, so download it now and become a trash wizard. RECYCLINGYour blue bag is for plastic, glass, paper and aluminium […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Tuition is expensive enough
1. Live off -campusLiving in campus housing can be a great way to meet new people in your first year, but after that, ditch the expensive $1,000-per-month room, overpriced meal plan and restrictive quiet hours for a spot of your own or with friends. The more roommates you have, the less expensive your rent will […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
How to be a good neighbour
Know when it’s time to use your indoor voice You’re probably woo-ing louder than you think you are. Noise complaints are a serious thing in the off-campus world, so it pays to know your bylaws. Halifax’s noise bylaw keeps it pretty simple, prohibiting “any activity that unreasonably disturbs or tends to disturb the peace and […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Good luck getting that damage deposit back
Melanie Quigg has been fighting to get her $650 damage deposit back for more than a year. Despite a favourable decision from a Residential Tenancies Board adjudicator last month, she’s still waiting. “I was thrilled and relieved to know I had won,” says Quigg. “But I’ve seen enough to know just because the ruling was […]
Posted inLifestyle
Why is it so hard for dog owners to rent in Halifax?
[Image-1] Meet Denver: An avid spooner, goofy and harmlessly affectionate. Denver has been involved with Jillian Mason for just under seven months. He wakes her in the morning with smothering kisses and waits for her at home after work. The bond couldn’t be stronger between the two, but finding an apartment for the pair wasn’t […]