Notice to End a Tenancy in Nova Scotia

A tenant ending a month-to-month tenancy must give at least one month's notice before the end of a rental month. A tenant ending a year-to-year tenancy must give at least three months' notice before the end of the year. For a fixed-term lease, a tenant generally can't end it early without the landlord's agreement or a valid legal reason.

In Nova Scotia a landlord may give a notice to quit only on grounds the Residential Tenancies Act lists, for example unpaid rent, breach of certain statutory conditions, or a Director's order. There is no without-cause notice period for a landlord, and a landlord cannot end a periodic tenancy simply by giving notice.

The notice rules above apply to periodic tenancies. For a fixed-term lease, confirm the rules that apply to your agreement with the Residential Tenancies Program before giving or accepting any notice.

If rent is not paid within three days after it is due, from the fourth day the landlord may give a notice to quit that takes effect no earlier than ten days after it is given. Within ten days of receiving it, the tenant can pay the arrears in full, which voids the notice, or apply to the Director to set the notice aside.