Students need action to lower rising rents: NDP

HALIFAX – Today, Official Opposition Leader Claudia Chender, with representatives from several university student unions, demanded the Houston government take action on soaring housing costs. Despite promising to address affordability and deliver a student housing plan, students are struggling more than ever to keep up with rising costs. Since the Houston government was elected, Nova Scotians are spending $4,400 more each year on rent.

During the fall sitting of the legislature, New Democrats put forward a plan for real rent control that would tie a rent cap to the unit, not the tenant. The NSNDP plan also calls for the creation of a Residential Tenancy Enforcement Unit so that tenants can get help when they’re being abused.

“If students can’t afford to live here, they’re going to go somewhere else,” said Chender. “Students are telling us it feels impossible to pay their tuition and keep up with soaring rent. Instead of helping these renters, this government is making it worse.The Houston government has made it easier to evict tenants and stripped rights away from boarders instead of taking action to lower prices and protect renters.

“Ensuring that rent increases are small, predictable and tied to the Consumer Price Index means more people will actually be able to afford their bills and save some money for the months ahead.”

Despite the Houston government’s temporary five per cent rent cap, the average rent for a new lease increased 28 per cent last year.

“Students, across the board, are finding it harder and harder to afford their rent,” said Ethan Leckie, Vice President of the Dalhousie Students' Union. “People need predictability and stability in their housing costs. We want to make sure the government is talking about these issues and understands that the system needs to be balanced so the rent cap is lower and the fixed-term lease loophole is closed. People can’t keep up when rents increase by hundreds of dollars a month whenever a new lease is signed.”

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