Lease Agreements in Nova Scotia: What Yours Must Include

Written Leases and the Standard Form

Nova Scotia requires most residential tenancy agreements to be in writing, using the province's Residential Tenancy Agreement standard form or one containing at least the same mandatory terms. A landlord must give the tenant a copy of the signed agreement within 10 days of signing.

What the Agreement Must Include

A valid Nova Scotia tenancy agreement must state the names of the landlord and tenant, the address of the rental unit, the amount of rent and when it's due, the amount of any security deposit, and the start date of the tenancy (and end date, for a fixed-term lease). It should also note who is responsible for which utilities.

Fixed-Term vs. Month-to-Month

A fixed-term lease runs for a set period (commonly one year) and, unless the agreement or the tenant's notice says otherwise, automatically continues on a month-to-month basis after that term ends. A month-to-month (periodic) tenancy has no fixed end date and continues until properly ended by notice from either side.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does my Nova Scotia lease have to be in writing?

In almost all cases, yes -- the Residential Tenancies Act requires most tenancy agreements to be in writing on the standard form or an equivalent.

What happens when my fixed-term lease ends?

Unless the agreement says otherwise or proper notice is given, it automatically continues as a month-to-month tenancy under the same terms.

Does my lease have to say who pays for utilities?

The standard form includes space to specify this, and it's strongly recommended, since the Act itself doesn't assign utilities by default.

Lease Agreements in Nova Scotia