Tenant Handbook
On this page, you will find a variety of resources to keep you informed on your responsibilities as a tenant, and our duties as your landlord.
The tenant handbook is for you. It includes important information about your tenancy with NSPHA, such as what you can expect from us as your landlord. This handbook also explains rules that all tenants must follow.
Brochures and Guides
Overhousing
NSPHA offers housing to eligible applicants based on their household composition, housing needs, and desired location. Over time, these factors may change. NSPHA annually reviews tenants’ household sizes and needs to make sure that their unit and housing needs match. In some cases, a household may have more bedrooms than occupants require – we consider this overhousing. The Overhousing Policy aims to move tenants who have more space than they need into appropriately sized units. By doing so, more families can access safe, suitable, and deeply affordable public housing.
Background: In 2022, the Auditor General’s Report recommended that the government implement lease renewal processes to verify the continued eligibility of public housing tenants. This includes assessing whether tenants may be overhoused.
In Spring 2023, NSPHA strengthened our processes to support the implementation of the existing overhousing policy.
Households are typically overhoused for one of two reasons – a decrease in household members or a lack of suitable units available when housing was offered. When these households move to more suitable units, it creates more space to accommodate waitlisted families.
Appealing a Decision
If you disagree with decisions made on your request to transfer to another public housing unit, rent calculations, unit calculations or tenant charges, you can request to appeal that decision. An appeal is a request to have a decision made by NSPHA reviewed.
Community Resources
We understand the importance of being connected to your community. Across Nova Scotia, there are many helpful programs and services available to support you.
211
If you have concerns about your safety and wellbeing, or the safety of others, you can call the Men's Helpline, Women's Helpline or All Genders Helpline. The helplines are free, confidential and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Community resource navigators will connect you with someone who can help or just listen.
Call toll-free: 211
811
For non-emergency advice and information about mental health and addictions, call 811.
988: Suicide Crisis Helpline
The 988: Suicide Crisis Helpline provides urgent, live, trauma-informed support by phone and text 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Kids Help Phone
Kids Help Phone is a national helpline for young people between the ages of 5 and 20. Confidential and anonymous support is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can phone to speak with a trained counsellor. You can also text to reach a trained volunteer crisis responder.
Call toll-free: 1-800-668-6868
Text CONNECT to 686868
Provincial Mental Health and Addictions Crisis Line
If you’re experiencing a mental health or addictions crisis, or are concerned about someone who is, the Provincial Mental Health and Addictions Crisis Line is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Call toll-free: 1-888-429-8167
Mental Health and Addictions Services
If you or a family member needs help, you can self-refer to a mental health or addictions clinic, service or program through the Nova Scotia Health Authority or IWK Health Centre.
Call toll-free: 1-855-922-1122 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm and evening hours Tuesday, 4:30 pm to 8:00 pm).