Nova Scotia Rent Increase Calculator
5% cap to 31 December 2027, 4 months' notice, once every 12 months
Enter the rent and the dates to see what Nova Scotia law allows.
Nova Scotia rent increase rules
Nova Scotia's 5% cap was extended from the end of 2025 to 31 December 2027. A landlord needs four months' written notice on a periodic tenancy and cannot raise rent more than once in 12 months. Since 2023 the increase can take effect on a date other than the lease anniversary.
| Applies to | Limit |
|---|---|
| 5% cap, extended to 31 December 2027 | 5% |
- Month-to-month or year-to-year, 4 months
- Administered by the Residential Tenancies Program.
The cap ends on 31 December 2027 unless the legislature extends it. For dates after that this calculator shows no cap rather than assuming one.
How Nova Scotia rent increase rules have changed
Annual limit by province, 2017 to 2027
Quebec shows the tribunal’s recommended increase for an unheated unit, which is a reference point rather than a cap. Gaps are years with no percentage limit or no confirmed figure.
| Province | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ontario | 1.5% | 1.8% | 1.8% | 2.2% | 0% | 1.2% | 2.5% | 2.5% | 2.5% | 2.1% | 1.9% |
| British Columbia | 3.7% | 4% | 2.5% | 2.6% | 0% | 1.5% | 2% | 3.5% | 3% | 2.3% | 2.2% |
| Alberta | No percentage limit in any of these years | ||||||||||
| Saskatchewan | No percentage limit in any of these years | ||||||||||
| Manitoba | — | — | 2.2% | 2.4% | 1.6% | 0% | 0% | 3% | 1.7% | 1.8% | 3% |
| Quebec | — | — | — | — | 0.8% | 1.3% | 2.3% | 4% | 5.9% | 3.1% | TBA |
| New Brunswick | — | — | — | — | — | 3.8% | — | — | 3% | 3% | 3% |
| Nova Scotia | — | — | — | — | 2% | 2% | 2% | 5% | 5% | 5% | 5% |
| Prince Edward Island | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0% | 3% | 2.3% | 2% | TBA |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | No percentage limit in any of these years | ||||||||||
Notes on starred years
- Ontario 2021: Pandemic freeze
- British Columbia 2021: Pandemic freeze (CPI was 1.4%)
- British Columbia 2023: CPI was 5.4%; the government capped the increase at 2.0%
- Manitoba 2022: Freeze
- Manitoba 2023: Freeze
- Prince Edward Island 2023: Freeze set by legislation; landlords could apply to IRAC for more
- Prince Edward Island 2024: Ceiling under the new Act; 2024 landlords could apply for up to 3 points more
- Quebec 2021: TAL recommended rate for an unheated unit. Not a legal cap.
- Quebec 2022: TAL recommended rate. Not a legal cap.
- Quebec 2023: TAL recommended rate. Not a legal cap.
- Quebec 2024: TAL recommended rate. Not a legal cap.
- Quebec 2025: TAL recommended rate for an unheated unit, the highest since 1988. Not a legal cap.
- Quebec 2026: TAL base rate under the new method (secondary reporting). Not a legal cap.
- New Brunswick 2022: One-year cap under Bill 96
- Nova Scotia 2021: Temporary cap, introduced November 2020
Changes in legislation and policy
| When | What changed |
|---|---|
| November 2020 | 2% temporary rent cap A 2% cap on increases to existing tenancies was introduced during the pandemic. CTV Atlantic: 2% cap extended |
| February 2022 | 2% cap extended to 31 December 2023 The pandemic cap was extended as part of the province's housing strategy. CTV Atlantic: 2% cap extended |
| March 2023 | Cap raised to 5% from 2024 The cap was extended through 2025 and raised from 2% to 5% starting 1 January 2024. Global News: cap extended at 5% |
| September 6, 2024 | 5% cap extended to 31 December 2027 The cap, which would have ended on 31 December 2025, was extended by two years. Nova Scotia news release |
Increases above the limit
A landlord can apply to the Director of Residential Tenancies for an increase above the cap using Form N. Advocates note that the fixed-term lease route is a gap, so check how the cap applies if you sign a new fixed term for the same unit.
When a tenant leaves
The cap limits increases for a continuing tenancy. A new tenant's opening rent is a matter of agreement.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Nova Scotia rent cap?
5% a year, extended to 31 December 2027. Landlords can ask the Director for more using Form N.
How much notice does a Nova Scotia landlord have to give?
Four months for month-to-month and year-to-year tenancies and eight weeks for week-to-week. Rent can rise once in 12 months, and a tenant on a year-to-year lease can end the tenancy after getting a notice.
Does the Nova Scotia cap apply to fixed-term leases?
Guidance says it applies where the same tenant signs a new lease for the same unit, but advocates have flagged fixed terms as a loophole. Get advice if you are signing a new term at a higher rent.
Rent increase calculators for other provinces
Sources
- Nova Scotia: Changes to rent cap and Residential Tenancies Act
- Nova Scotia: Residential Tenancies Guide, Ending a Tenancy
Last checked 2026-10-29. Legislation and yearly figures change, and this is not legal advice. Confirm with the Residential Tenancies Program before serving or contesting a notice.