Nova Scotia’s rental market is facing persistent pressure, with new data showing that renters in our province are among those experiencing the highest financial burden in Canada. According to the latest Residential Market Pressure Index from Turner Drake & Partners, high rents, tight supply, and growing demand have combined to create significant stress on household budgets. Even as supply increases in some segments, the fundamentals of affordability remain a major challenge for many Nova Scotians today.
This pressure affects not only individual renters but the broader health of our communities. When rental costs consume larger shares of income, people are forced to make difficult trade-offs between housing and essentials like food, transportation, and healthcare. This strain also makes it harder for employers across sectors to recruit and retain talent, especially in smaller communities where options are limited.
At The Housing Trust of Nova Scotia, we focus on solutions that go beyond short-term market shifts. Through non-market rental housing and targeted rent incentives, we help bring rents closer to 28–35% of a qualified household’s total income. These savings give tenants more flexibility to cover essential needs like food, transportation, childcare, and other necessities, while our ongoing investments in building performance and energy efficiency help ensure long-term affordability and stability.
As provincial and federal partners work to understand and respond to the complex housing pressures outlined in reports like this, HTNS remains committed to expanding access to safe, affordable rental homes — because housing stability isn’t just about shelter, it’s about enabling people to thrive.
Source: https://lnkd.in/eabeiZ8T