Violence in Rental Housing Working Group
If you believe you or your children are experiencing domestic violence, you can call 211 at any time to get connected to resources. If you are in immediate danger, call 911.
If you are a child (under 18) and experiencing any problems at home, you can call the Kids Help Phone at: 1-800-668-6868
To find immediate shelter in your area, visit: https://thans.ca/our-shelters/
In March of 2025, Dal Legal Aid travelled across the province delivering tenants’ rights presentations, legal clinics, and connecting with service providers about how we can better support their work. A recurring theme we heard - particularly from rural communities - was the experience of violence in rental housing.
Service providers reported that tenants are facing coercion into sexual acts in exchange for housing, as well as ongoing risks of domestic violence that threaten their housing stability. In our clinics, we’ve also documented multiple instances of sexual and physical violence involving landlords or their staff and tenants. Unfortunately, tenants have very limited legal avenues through the Residential Tenancies Program to address these issues - and they often feel they cannot take action for fear of losing their housing.
While there is lots of research on tenant-to-tenant violence, there is a gap in both data and legal analysis around violence perpetrated by landlords or those in power over housing. Regardless of the perpetrator, tenants experiencing gender-based or sexual violence in rental housing continue to fall through the cracks of our legal system.
To address this, DLAS is launching theViolence in Rental Housing Working Group. This group will aim to:
Address gaps in research, data, and case law related to domestic and gender-based violence in rental housing,
Build a network of service providers to ensure tenants experiencing violence have access to legal aid, information, and resources,
Develop law reform recommendations that strengthen protections for tenants facing violence.
Resources developed will be published here, and as part of our Tenants’ Rights Guide.
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If you are looking to leave your rental because of domestic violence, visit our page here. Or read here on ending a tenancy early.
If you have experienced violence (including sexual harassment or threats of violence) from any of the following in the last 60 days, you may be eligible for Priority Referral for legal representation, information, and advice:
Your partner, family member, or someone living in your home
Your landlord, property manager, superintendent, or employee of the landlord
A maintenance person, custodian, or other employee of the landlord or property management company
Another tenant in your building
Please fill out our Priority Access Self-Referral Form, attach any relevant documents, and email them to sydnee.blum@dal.ca
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If you have a client who has experienced violence (including sexual harassment or threats of violence) from any of the following in the last 60 days, they may be eligible for Priority Referral for legal representation, information, and advice:
Your partner, family member, or someone living in your home
Your landlord, property manager, superintendent, or employee of the landlord
A maintenance person, custodian, or other employee of the landlord or property management company
Another tenant in your building
Please fill out our Priority Access Referral Form attach any relevant documents, and email them to sydnee.blum@dal.ca
Join the Working Group
Are you part of a group that provides services to people facing domestic violence, or can provide legal resources and research? Join our working group by filling out the form below.