Private rentals are the most common type of rental housing in Nova Scotia (as of 2024 , 89% of rentals are private). This is where an individual, group of individuals, or company (i.e. the “landlord”) owns the building where you live and charges you rent in exchange for housing. These buildings can range from single-family homes to multi-unit apartment complexes or single rooms (commonly referred to as “Rooming Houses”).

Private, or “for-profit”, housing operates within a market framework, where housing is run primarily for financial gain. The primary objective for private rentals is to maximize returns on investment for the owners or their stakeholders. This can lead to challenges like affordability and housing supply issues, gentrification, and unequal access to housing for low-income people or marginalized communities.

Private rentals and landlords are governed by the RTA, as well as any other applicable pieces of legislation or oversight (e.g. Nova Scotia Human Rights Act, city bylaws, the Criminal Code of Canada, etc.). The laws and regulations for private rentals are covered in detail in this guide.