Hey Landlords & property managers.

This is not a usual post, but wanted to spread the word about this upcoming forum, presented by Residential Housing Providers Nova Scotia & Yardi

Navigating the Residential Tenancies Act:
Strategies for Empowered Property Management

Register Here

Friday, June 13, 2025 | 11:30 am to 2:10 pm | Westin Nova Scotian Hotel
$110.00 Members, $120.00 Non-Members
(Registration includes a three-course plated meal)
Agenda
11:30 am – 12:10 pm Networking – Lunch
12:10 pm – 01:00 pm Session 1: Panel Discussion
01:10 pm – 02:10 pm Session 2: Case Law Outcomes

Session 1 – Panel Discussion – Gain valuable insights and practical solutions from experienced
panelists with in-depth knowledge of Residential Tenancies and Small Claims Court processes. Learn
how to navigate common challenges and make informed decisions as a rental housing provider.
Panel Topics
Navigating Property Rights in a Rental Market
Should You Appeal to the Nova Scotia Small Claims Court? Pros & Cons
Tenant with Legal Representation in Hearings: What Landlords Need to Know
Dealing with Abusive Tenants: Legal and Practical Strategies
Managing Tenants with Complex Societal Challenges
Emergency Situations: What to Do When Police & Residential Tenancies Won’t Assist
Bylaw Compliance: Avoiding Pitfalls & Ensuring Legal Operations
Q&A
Session 2 – Case Law – Cox & Palmer’s John Boyle and Leandra Bouman will present key Residential
Tenancies case outcomes based on RTO and NSCC adjudicator decisions and the expected impact
of recent RTA amendments.
Panel Topics
Recent case law updates including The Supreme Court of Nova Scotia Simmons Decision and its
Impact on Residential Tenancies and Small Claims Court Hearings
Understanding the Impact of Recent Residential Tenancies Act (RTA) Amendments
Explaining the impact of bylaws. For example, building code violations, short-term rentals,
and occupation allowances.
Explaining best practices for enforcement.
12:00 pm – 12:10 pm Opening Remarks
BIOs
Moderator and Panelists
Amanda R. Knight – Amanda began acquiring and renovating small MURB’s in Colchester & Pictou
Counties in 2020. By 2023 Amanda had added 12 units to the local housing stock
and currently owns 19 doors. In June 2024, Amanda joined the Community Housing
Transformation Centre as a Program Manager overseeing the Capital Fund for
Nova Scotia. In addition to active involvement in her local community, Amanda
has presented at Law Amendments and was invited to speak at the federal review
panel’s oral hearing on the Financialization of Purpose-Built Rental Housing. Amanda
has been an active RHPNS member since 2020 and was appointed to the board in 2022.
Ursula Eckoldt
Owner and President of Urchin Property Management, oering over 15 years of
professional experience with the last ve years focused on growth and operations
eciency. Ursula is known for her professionalism, integrity, being solutions-oriented,
excellent communication, and ability to use sound business principles. Ursula has
been an active member of RHPNS since 2009 becoming a director in 2023.
Angie Craig
Angie has been working at MetCap Living Management Inc. since 2014. She started as a
Property Manager and was later promoted to the position of Senior Property Manager. In
2018,Angie was appointed to her current position as Regional Director of Operations. In
this role, she oversees the operations in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick for one of Canada’s
leading third-party management rms specializing in multi-unit residential property
management. She is always eagerto expand her knowledge of legal processes, particularly
related to Residential Tenancies, and keeps up-to-date with current Building, Fire, and Life
Safety regulations. MetCap Living has been an active RHPNS members since 2010.
Panelists
Ursula Eckholdt, President and CEO, Urchin Property Management
Angie Craig, Director of Operations, NS,
Jennifer Bateman, Associate Director, Canadian Apartment Properties REIT (CAPREIT)
John Boyle, Partner, Cox & Palmer
Moderator
Amanda Knight, Owner, Knight Growth Strategies
Leandra Bouman, Associate, Cox & Palmer’s
MetCap Living Management
Amanda Simpson, Residential Property Manager, Westwood Development

I hope you are able to attend.

Until next time,

Design your landord experience,

Michael P Currie

Landlord By Design

Oh, and I would not be doing my job unless I provided a link to purchase my books, you can get them here!

The post RHPNS 2025 Residential Tenancies Forum appeared first on Landlord by Design.

WOW! Huge Changes With Residential Tenancy April 30th

Well after lots of talk, reports consulatation it looks like the changes to make the Nova Scotia residential tenancy guidlines more in line with what is happening coast to coast, are going to start on April 30. As a member of the Residential Housing Providers Nova Scotia (formerly IPOANS) organization I had a front row seat to an excellent summary that I wanted to share with all of you.

The following was shared by Kevin Russell the executive director of RHPNS – If you own a residential rental property in Nova Scotia, I highly recommend you sign up. Check out member options here

Please be advised that several amendments to Nova Scotia’s Residential Tenancies Act and Regulations will come into effect on April 30, 2025. These changes are aimed at improving efficiency and communication between landlords and tenants.

Key changes include:

• New rules and timelines for ending tenancies, including grounds such as repeated late rent, criminal activity, or property damage.
• Updated notice period: Landlords may now notify tenants three days after rent is due that a lease can be terminated if payment is not made. Tenants have 10 days to pay, move out, or appeal.
• Improved communication: Landlords must provide an email address if tenants do, making digital correspondence easier.
• Online publication of decisions: Certain residential tenancy decisions will now be available online to improve transparency.
• Standardized rule changes in land-lease communities, such as mobile home parks.
• Revised process for rent increases in land-lease communities beyond the annual allowable amount.

These updates follow the passage of legislative amendments in September 2024 and are designed to better balance the rights and responsibilities of both landlords and tenants.

Read more details in the full government announcement here:
Changes to Residential Tenancies Program for Tenants, Landlords (April 9, 2025)

If you have questions about how these changes affect you, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Feel free to share this email with rental housing providers in your network and your employees.

Best regards,

Kevin Russell | Executive Director 

168 Hobson Lake Drive, Suite 301, Halifax, NS, B3S 0G4
www.rhpns.ca | CFAA Association of the Year

I hope you find this information valuable.

Until next time,

Design your landlord experience,

Michael P Currie

Landlord by Design

Oh, and if you don’t have it yet, make sure to pick up a copy of my books right here!

Photo credit goes to Ian Panelo

The post WOW! Huge Changes With Residential Tenancy April 30th appeared first on Landlord by Design.

A hot topic in our area comes down to two things. Landlords & tenants need to know the residential tenancy act plus understand their legal property rights. Dalhousie legal aid provides a great resource.

Dalhousie Legal aid just updated their Tenants Rights Guide if you are a landlord in Nova Scotia I highly recommend you read this. They provide a great overview of the residential tenancy act, in an easy to read format. It is called a tenants rights guide, however, landlords & property managers can benefit by using it as a quick reference guide of the Nova Scotia residential tenancy act.

More info on the topic can be found on the Legal Info Nova Scotia Website or on the Dalhousie Legal Aid Tenants Rights Website

The full Nova Scotia residential guide can be found here: NS Residential Tenancy Act

A blank copy of the official Nova Scotia Lease can be found here: Standard From of Lease Form (P)

I want to end by saying the best way to have a great landlord / tenant experience is by starting with a proper screening process. As part of our process we have been using TVS Tenant Verification for several years. They have a Canadian & American website and do a tenant rating. They provide both credit & criminal background checks.

Getting educated has been our best source of risk management. If you are in Nova Scotia you should look up Rental Housing Providers Nova Scotia, and a great resource in the USA is AAOA American Apartment Owners Association

I know this post seems a little advertorial, I assure you that is not my intent, but I do feel strongly about all landlords, property managers and tenants getting educated, and these links provide some really fantastic information.

Until next time,

Design your landlord experience,

Michael Currie – Landlord by Design

Also if you do not have it, make sure to pick up a copy of one or both of my books right here!

The post Essential Legal Resources for Tenants & Landlords appeared first on Landlord by Design.

Free Rental Housing Conference October 16, 2024

Hey landlords and property managers. I am connected with the AAOA (American Apartment Owners Association). They are hosting a huge conference on October 16th in California. Lots of great content that is relevant across many boarders, especially Canada & USA.

I have the opportunity to offer all my readers free access to the livestream.

If you would like to livestream the event for free click HERE and use code MCURRIEFREE.

Here is what the conference is all about:

Grow Your Knowledge

This is your chance to transform your rental business and boost your confidence. Stay updated on legal trends, meet fellow investors, and take home actionable insights to improve your operations.

Experience a phenomenal day packed with rental industry updates and tips from the country’s top experts. You’ll walk away with new business building ideas, critical legal updates, and risk mitigation strategies you can put to work immediately.

Agenda

Times shown are PT

8:30am PT

Doors open for exhibit hall, networking, light bites, and coffee plus free lunch served later in the day

9:00am PT

Defer Taxes WITH or WITHOUT a 1031 Exchange

Speaker: Scott Varney, Tax Strategist, SV Consultants

10:00am PT

How to Combat the Multifamily Insurance Crisis

Speaker: Lauren Lieb, Sr. Commercial Risk Advisor, InsuranceHub

10:40am PT

CA Eviction Notices: Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid them

Speaker: Tracey Merrell, Esq., Managing Partner of Education, Kimball, Tirey, St. John LLP

11:40am PT

Complying with California’s Balcony Laws SB 721 and SB 326

Speaker: David Atkins, Senior Account Manager, DrBalcony

12:00pm-1:30pm PT

Lunch provided for in-person attendees

12:30pm PT

The Future for Landlords in California: Legal Shifts and Survival Strategies

Speakers:

Kenny Lim, Managing Partner, California Property Law Group

Rafael Azizian, Managing Partner, California Property Law Group</p

Zachary Miller, Managing Partner, California Property Law Group

Christian Walsh, Owner and Broker, WIRE Associates

1:20pm PT

Multifamily State of The Industry Roundtable

Moderator:

Julie Anne Peterson, Senior Director, Old Capital

Speakers:

Gary Lipsky, President/CEO, Break of Day Capital

Taylor Avakian, Multifamily Broker/Founder, The Group CRE

Ryan Patap, Sr. Director/Market Analytics, CoStar

2:30pm PT

Squatter Prevention and Tips from the Squatter Hunter

Speaker: Flash Shelton, The Squatter Hunter, SquatterHunters.com

3:00pm PT

Navigating Emotional Support Animal Requests

Speakers:

Kelly Stanaway, Co-President, Fertig & Gordon

Kristen Smith,  Co-President, Fertig & Gordon

4:00pm PT

Closing Remarks

Enjoy the conference,

Until next time,

Design your landlord experience,

Michael P Currie

Landlord by Design

Oh, and of course if you do not have a copy of my latest book, you can grab it here!

The post Free Rental Housing Conference October 16, 2024 appeared first on Landlord by Design.

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