Your rights as a student renter in Nova Scotia

Renting as a student can be a hard maze to navigate. You might be fairly new to renting and maybe even brand new to Nova Scotia.

"Being a student, I find it's always stressful when it comes time to rent out a new unit," Students Nova Scotia head Collette Robert said.

The key is to learn your rights under the Residential Tenancies Actand do your research, saidRobert, a student at Saint Mary's University.

Here are some tips about your rights as a student renter:

1. Rent

If your landlord saidyour rent is going up, remember that inNova Scotia, there are specific rules about that.

On a year-long lease, your landlord canonly raise rent on youranniversary date and with four months' notice.

Any other increases are in violation of the Residential TenanciesAct, so if you're faced with that, push back or call the tenancy board, Robert said.

Even changes to bills can be considered a rental increase. For example, if heat isincluded in your lease, and thelandlord tells you tostart paying for that bill, that changeconstitutes a rental increase with the same rules.

However, unlike other provinces such as British Columbia, there is no cap on how much the landlord can raise your rent.

2. Security deposit

In Nova Scotia, the landlord can only charge you a maximum of half a month's rent as a damage deposit. There's no such thing as a pet deposit, either.

That damage deposit issupposed to be returned at the end of the rental, but your landlord may want to keep part of itto repair damage or for unpaid rent.

First,the landlord must returnyour depositwithin 10 days of the lease ending. If they want to keep all or part of it, they must fill out an application within 10 days to do so.

The landlord cannot keep your deposit for damage that's "ordinary wear and tear," according to the act.

Issues with securitydeposits are near the top of Robert's list of issues students have with landlords.

"They end up getting stuck in a position just based off of not knowing,and then they don't get their deposit back," Robert said.

She recommends taking photos when youmove in and when you leave, to have independent documentation of the unit's condition.

3. Repairs

Your landlord must keep your apartment or flat "in a good state of repair and fit for habitation," according to the tenancy act.

But if it's not you needto call your landlord.

"I have seen some students live in very poor conditions, sometimes even being rented out a closet to live in," Robert said.

Shesaidshe's seen students settling forlow quality housing because of the price, especially given how renting while paying tuition can be "very difficult."

If the issues aren't fixed, speakto the tenancy board.

4. Leaving

If it's time to find a new place, be sure to check the rules. You are responsible for the rent for the full length of the lease.

For a year lease, you must give three months' notice to leave. Otherwise, the landlord can assume you want to renew for another year.

5. Looking for new places

And shop around for a new place, Robertsaid.

"I've seen some international students come here and ... they pay a much higher amount, for example, than I do," Robertsaid.

She saidshe's seen a bachelor apartment go to a local renter for $650 that might be rented for $1,000 to a person from out of town.

View as many places as possible, research average rents and talk to friends, staff at the school and even the tenancy board to avoid inflated rental prices.

The tenancy board, the province,student unions and tenant advocacy groups, such as AcornNova Scotia, oftencan provide support when navigating renting as a student in Halifax.