Housing report shows serious issues facing renters

Halifax-- NDP Housing Spokesperson Lisa Roberts made the following statement in response to today’s annual CMHC rental market report:

“My NDP caucus colleagues and I have been hearing about dramatic and unsustainable rent increases over the last year. With the vacancy rate at one per cent in Halifax, down from 1.6, there is no question that there is a very serious shortage of affordable places to live and the problem is getting worse, not better.

Average rent was up almost four per cent from $1,066 to $1,113 in Halifax, and up 3.6 per cent across the province. Already, 19 per cent of households spend 50 per cent or more of their income on housing and utilities, as these costs continue to rise that number will get even bigger.

There are things the Liberal government can do that can help people find an affordable place to live. To start, we need rent control in Nova Scotia. We need to properly regulate short-term rentals so people can live in our communities, not just visit. And we need to support the development of more non-profit, cooperative, and public housing so people have a place to live.”

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