Nova Scotia fixed-term lease loophole to remain in place despite some abuse: official – Halifax [Video]

A provincial official acknowledged Tuesday that some Nova Scotia landlords are abusing fixed-term leases, but the government is not looking to change tenancy law because there could be “unintended consequences.”

Gary O’Toole, associate deputy minister of Service Nova Scotia, told the legislature’s community services committee that before any changes can be made, the department needs to understand the long-term impact.

“Certainly we are aware anecdotally through our conversations with landlords and tenants that fixed-term leases are being used inappropriately,” O’Toole said. But he added that such leases, which allow for rentals shorter than a year, are valuable to tenants in certain circumstances.

“We know that they help in situations where someone is here temporarily for work or student housing or any number of other situations,” he said. When asked by reporters he was unable to give an example of an unintended consequence the government is trying to avoid.

Unlike a …