When you disagree with a decision
If you disagree with decisions made on your application for public housing, a request to transfer to another public housing unit, rent calculations, unit calculations or tenant charges, then you can request to appeal that decision. An appeal is a request by an applicant or tenant to have a decision made by the Nova Scotia Provincial Housing Agency reviewed.
Decisions that can be appealed
- Application approval decisions, including decisions related to Priority Access
- The size of a public housing unit allocated to applicants and tenants
- The calculation of rent payments for public housing tenants
- Declined requests to transfer to another public housing unit, or transfer decisions made by the Nova Scotia Provincial Housing Agency
- Decisions made related to tenant charges
Decisions that cannot be appealed
- Changes to policy
- Decisions that do not relate directly to you or your household
- Complaints about staff members
- Building and property maintenance
- Matters that fall under the applicable Act
- Matters involving criminal activity
- Situations where a higher court is involved
- Initiation of a lease termination process*
Cancelled applications due to:
- Incomplete information at time of application or annual eligibility check
- No response
- Requests from applicant
*Appeals related to lease termination can be brought forward by tenants to the Residential Tenancies Board.
The appeal process
There are two steps in the appeal process. The first is a Decision Review made by a District Director who was not involved in making the initial decision. The second is an Appeal Hearing before an Appeals Committee. Step 1 - Decision Review - must occur before you can proceed to Step 2 - Appeal Hearing. If your issue gets resolved at any point, you can stop the process.
How to submit an appeal
Download a brochure with more information about the Decision Review and Appeal process, or pick up a copy from a District Office:
To start an appeal, submit a Decision Review Request Form to your District Office. You have 10 business days after receiving a decision to submit this form.
If you have questions about making an appeal, please contact your District Office.