Housing

Finding a Place to Live

If you can, it is recommended that you arrange temporary accommodation for your first nights in Nova Scotia. This will allow you to settle in gently and familiarize yourself with your new environment.
This will give you time to explore the area, meet people who can help you and familiarize yourself with the local rental and property market, as well as to explore the region’s different neighbourhoods. For temporary accommodation, you will find information here.

One widely accepted financial recommendation is to not allocate more than 30 to 35% of your gross income to housing. This portion should include the following expenses:

  • Rent or mortgage repayment
  • Insurance
  • Heating
  • Water
  • Electricity
  • Telephone/internet/television
  • Property taxes (for homeowners)

Renting

It is very important to know your rights and obligations as a tenant and to know those of your landlord to foster a good mutual relationship.

Before renting

  • To this end, before renting, it is strongly recommended that you read (and print if possible) the Residential Tenancies Act.
  • To help you settle into your new life as peacefully as possible, in addition to your rights and obligations, it is important to know what will make you feel at home in this housing. Before starting your search, make a list of the things that are essential for your well-being and ask yourself questions such as:

Visiting housing

If you do not speak English and the landlord is English-speaking, we recommend that you bring along a friend or colleague to help you ask the landlord questions and make sure you understand the answers.

Although some landlords will do so, it is not required by law to sign a schedule of condition on arrival or departure. During the visit, it is therefore strongly advised to pay close attention to details such as:

  • Insulation
    • Doors and windows: will you feel cold or hot? Do they open and close properly and safely?
  • Home Heating
    • Heating oil or electric ? Feel free to ask about how much heating costs all year round, particularly in winter.
    • Are the radiators adjustable? Are they in good condition?
  • Electricity
    • Check that switches and electrical outlets are working properly and are safe.
    • Ask where the electrical panel is located and check its general condition.
  • Electrical appliances
    • Inspect them to check that they are clean and in good working order (e.g. check for any leaks)
  • Are there smoke detectors (mandatory), carbon monoxide detectors (optional) and radon detectors (optional)?
  • Overall cleanliness/good condition
    • Feel free to look in corners and behind doors.
    • Take note and inform the landlord of any damage or breakages that may have occurred before you take possession of the dwelling.
  • Other questions:
    • Is there a parking spot?
    • Who is responsible for clearing snow from the parking lot and sidewalk?
    • How does the garbage collection service work?
    • What are the methods of payment for the rent (bank transfer, cheques)?
    • How much will the security deposit be?

Signing a lease (rental contract)

  • Usually, the lease is for one year (12 months) and is renewable, but it can also be monthly, in which case, find out the reason for the monthly contract before signing.
  • Sometimes, owners may wish to return to their accommodation during the summer period, so it is important to know the possible rental period to avoid having to move without having planned it.
  • At a minimum, the lease must indicate:
    • The landlord’s identity and contact information
    • The tenant’s identity and contact information
    • The contract start date
    • The length of the contract
    • The rent amount
    • The date rent payment is due
    • The amount of the security deposit, which is usually equivalent to half a month’s rent. Upon departure, if the accommodation is in good condition, you will receive your security deposit back within 10 days.
    • Information related to the included electrical appliances.
    • Utilities included (heating, water, Internet, electricity)
    • The mandatory notice period for terminating the lease.
    • Restrictions (no smoking, no pets)
    • The conditions under which a landlord can enter the dwelling.

IMPORTANT

  • Remember that when you leave this housing, you must return it in the same condition as when you signed the lease.
  • Feel free to take photos before signing the lease, and before finally returning the keys when you leave the accommodation to avoid any disputes regarding the condition of the accommodation.
  • All information on renting is available here.

Paying Rent

Sometimes, landlords ask for twelve postdated cheques for the year of the lease to ensure that there are no delays in the payment of the rent. This practise is authorized in Canada, and to learn more about paying by cheque, visit this page.

You will therefore need a bank account and to have enough cheques.
Transfers and automatic withdrawals are also increasingly used.

If you pay your rent in cash, make sure to get proof of payment (a receipt) to protect yourself in the event of a dispute.

Applying for a Targeted Housing Benefit

The Canada-Nova Scotia Targeted Housing Benefit aims to support tenants whose rent exceeds 40% of their gross pre-tax family income, calculated in relation to the average market rent in their geographic area (and not in relation to the rent actually paid by the tenant). To learn more, visit this page.

Buying a Dwelling

Get informed

Before buying a home, take the time to find out about the real estate markets and the different neighbourhoods. To help you with this process, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) offers a comprehensive website for newcomers), providing detailed information on the process of buying real estate in Canada.

Choosing a home

To make your real estate plans a reality in the Chéticamp region, contact local real estate agencies.

IMPORTANT

If you are thinking of buying a home, do not forget to find out how much property tax you will have to pay.

Tax rate in Chéticamp https://invernesscounty.ca/services/finance-taxation/tax-area-rates/

Calculation of property taxes https://www.ratehub.ca/property-taxes

Home Insurance

To protect your home or your belongings in the event of fire, flood, burglary, or other serious problems, it is important to take out home insurance, whether you are a tenant or landlord.

Find companies providing real estate insurance here.

Access to Utilities

Utilities such as electricity, heating and water are key elements when choosing housing. Take a few moments to browse through the following list to assess how accessible they are and find out who the providers are:

Life in Chéticamp