Rents on new listing in N.S. rose more than 13% in October compared to last year, report says

Year-over-yearrent increases for new listings in Nova Scotia along withAlberta and Quebec were higher than theCanadianaverage last month, according to a new report.

Urbanation and Rentals.ca data based on hundreds of rentalsin Nova Scotia shows the averagerents on anew listingfor apartments in the province increased by 13.6 per cent to$2,097 in October, compared to a year earlier.

Strong population growth and large infusions of new rental unitsat above-average prices were cited as reasons for the increases in Nova Scotia as well as in Alberta and Quebec.

Michelle Malette, executive director of Out of the Cold Community Association in Halifax, said these numbers aren't surprising.

"We have folks who work and support folks who are unhoused and precariously housed that routinely are losing their own housing,"she said.

Malette said more social housing is needed beyond what the provincial government has alreadyannounced and issues with fixed-term leasesalso need to addressed to tackle the housing crisis.

"You should be able to treat it [the place you rent] like it's your home, and that's just not true anymore," she said. "It can be more or less taken from you at any time."

Giacomo Ladas, communications manager for rentals.ca, said one-bedroom apartments are experiencing faster annual rent growth nationally compared two-bedroom apartments. He said this is because "one-bedrooms are always a little higher in demand."

Rentals.ca is an online marketplace with apartment rental listings.

The average one-bedroom apartment in Nova Scotia was listed for $1,891 in October, theRentals.careport said.

Ladas also said there's been an increase in listings for roommates in Nova Scotia aspeople lookfor more affordable housing options, although this hasn't been as prominent as in places like Toronto.

"There's going to be a little bit more competition for available rental units as the demand increases," Ladas said, adding that until the supply of housing increases we're going to see rent increases for the foreseeable future.

Malette said the competition for rental housing disproportionately affects people working minimum wage or who receive income assistance, as well as thosewho experience other types of barriers like mental health struggles.

"Folks who don't have a good rental history, they're really out of luck," she said.