By Trish McCourt
There’s a common belief that if we just build more housing, affordability will follow. And while there’s some truth to that, what’s happening right now in Halifax suggests it’s not quite that simple.
A recent allNovaScotia.com article pointed out something that many renters already notice: some of the newer, higher-end rentals are sitting empty, while prices in more affordable units keep rising. It’s a strange paradox—vacant buildings on one end, and people struggling to find anything livable on the other.
One part of the story that doesn’t get enough attention is the role of incentives. Landlords are offering things like a free month of rent, moving bonuses, or free parking to attract tenants. But even when those perks are added, the actual rent written on the lease stays high—and that’s the number used to calculate future increases.
In other words, even if someone pays less at first, the long-term rent stays high. And because rent caps in Nova Scotia are tied to that lease number, these incentives help keep the baseline inflated.
To be clear, my comments aren’t about blaming landlords. Many are facing high interest rates, insurance costs, and other financial pressures. Offering incentives might feel like the only option to fill a unit without lowering the listed rent, which could hurt future revenue or make investors nervous.
But maybe it’s time we asked a simple question: if a unit isn’t renting at $2,000 a month, what would happen if the rent were just lowered—without the extras?
This is where non-profit housing works differently. Non-profit providers don’t offer bonuses or flashy deals. Their goal is to keep rents affordable and stable over the long term—both for tenants and the sustainability of the housing itself. Instead of short-term perks, they focus on long-term value.
More non-profit and co-op housing in our communities doesn’t just help the people who live there—it takes some pressure off the whole market. At the same time it puts a little pressure on to keep some market rents more affordable. When people have access to secure, affordable homes, they aren’t forced into overpriced units out of desperation. That benefits everyone, including private landlords who are also looking for more stability.
There are policy changes that could help too—like making it easier to track “net effective rent” (what tenants actually pay), or prioritizing non-profit housing in affordable housing development programs. Perhaps there is a place for better incentives for landlords to offer truly affordable rents. But more than that, we need a shift in mindset.
Housing isn’t just a transaction. It’s the foundation of people’s lives. And sometimes, the answer isn’t a move-in bonus or a parking spot—it’s simply a rent people can afford. Sometimes, it’s just lowering the rent.
