Your lease is more than just a document—it’s a roadmap to your rental experience. This section helps you break down the fine print, understand your rights and responsibilities, and ensure you’re signing with confidence.
The information in this guide should not be interpreted as legal advice, and is provided for informational purposes only. If you’re in need of legal advice, contact your local legal aid provider.
What Should Be Included With Your Lease?
Nova Scotia’s Residential Tenancies Act outlines the items that must be included on every lease. Some of these include:
- Contact Information:
- The names and contact info (mailing address, phone numbers) for both the landlord and the property manager and/or superintendent should be on your lease. Also, make sure you have been provided an emergency contact number for after-hours issues.
- Your lease must include the names of everyone living in the unit, including those who don’t pay rent (such as children).
- Lease Details:
- Most leases should follow the “Standard Form of Lease” template provided by the Nova Scotian government. Regardless, all leases should include the following:
- The monthly rent amount and how it should be paid
- The amount of any security deposit, and any extra fees that a tenant may have to pay (i.e. extra key fees, insufficient funds, etc.).
- What’s included or not included in the rent (like utilities or parking).
- Lease type (periodic or fixed term) and how to end it.
- Any additional rules set by the landlord, which should be reasonable under the RTA and apply to all tenants equally.
- Most leases should follow the “Standard Form of Lease” template provided by the Nova Scotian government. Regardless, all leases should include the following:
- Access to the Residential Tenancies Act:
- The landlord must also provide a copy of the Residential Tenancies Act (RTA), as a hard copy, via email, or through a link. The RTA can be found here.
- Inspection Details:
- The lease should note whether an inspection report is attached, including any inspections done before you moved in. If you didn’t inspect the rental before moving in, that should be noted in the lease. Use our viewing checklist during the inspection to make sure everything is as expected.
When Signing Your Lease
Read everything carefully before signing. If you have any concerns or questions, make sure they’re addressed beforehand. If you disagree with any rules, discuss them with the landlord. If there are any changes agreed upon, make sure these are documented in writing. Ask a trusted family member or friend to read over your lease if you are unsure or don’t understand its content.
Once you’ve signed a lease, your landlord must provide you and all other signatories with a copy within 10 days.
Example Sections from Standard Form of Lease
Your landlord isn’t required to use the Standard Form of Lease, but the majority of leases in Nova Scotia will follow this template. The screenshots below are standard, and critical, sections from the Standard Form of Lease — make sure your lease includes them, no matter what form it’s in.
This section is where you will find details about your monthly rental cost, frequency of payment, and how you can pay your rent.
This section describes what type of lease you have — fixed term or periodic. These types of leases differ significantly:
- A fixed term lease has a defined end date, and no obligation to renew (although your landlord may choose to offer you a renewal).
- A periodic lease repeats automatically on a specific term and will continue indefinitely until either the landlord or the tenant provides proper notice to terminate.
This section describes what is and isn’t included in your rent. Review this section carefully to ensure that it matches your understanding of what your rent includes.
This section outlines how much your security deposit will be, if one is required.
What is a Fixed Term Lease?
There are two types of leases that are permitted in Nova Scotia: A periodic lease and a fixed-term lease.
- A periodic lease is signed for a year, month, or week. The tenancy can continue year-to-year, month-to-month, or week-to-week until the tenant gives notice they don’t want to renew it.
- A fixed-term lease has a specific start and end date. The lease doesn’t renew after the end date. A tenant and landlord can agree to additional fixed-term leases, but there is no obligation to do so. A new fixed-term lease must be signed for each additional fixed-term. If a tenant continues to pay rent after the end date in the original fixed-term lease without signing a new lease, a month-to-month lease begins between the tenant and landlord.
In Nova Scotia, compared to other jurisdictions, the use of fixed-term leases is common. Take note of the type of lease you have when signing. If you are signing a fixed-term lease, set a reminder for yourself 4-months out from the end date, to begin discussing an extension or renewal with your landlord.