Security Deposits in Nova Scotia

Under the Residential Tenancies Act, a Nova Scotia landlord cannot charge more than one half of one month's rent as a security deposit. If your rent is $1,600 a month, the maximum deposit is $800.

A landlord can only ask for the deposit after a tenancy agreement has been signed -- not as a condition of considering your application.

The deposit is your money, held by the landlord for the length of the tenancy. Under the Residential Tenancies Act the landlord must return it to you with interest, so keep a written record of the amount you paid and the date.

When your tenancy ends, a landlord must return your deposit with interest within 10 days after the tenancy ends, or file a claim with the Director within those 10 days. If the landlord believes you owe money for damage beyond normal wear and tear, they must file that claim rather than simply keeping the money.

If you and your landlord can't agree on what's owed, either of you can apply to the Residential Tenancies Program. A Director's hearing officer will review the evidence -- move-in/move-out condition, receipts, photos -- and issue an order on how the deposit should be handled.