New Dawn offers free workshop to help CBRM renters navigate tenancy rules

SYDNEY, N.S. — New Dawn Enterprises and the Cape Breton Regional Library will host a free Tenant Advocacy Workshop on Tuesday, October 6, to help renters understand their rights and responsibilities under Nova Scotia’s Residential Tenancies Act.

The workshop will provide a practical overview of the rules that govern residential tenancies, from repairs, rent increases and security deposits to eviction notices and the process for resolving disputes. It will also walk participants through common tenancy issues and explain what tenants and landlords can expect when a matter proceeds to mediation or a hearing.

Housing has been a core part of New Dawn’s work since the organization was founded in 1976. Over the past five decades, New Dawn has developed and operated hundreds of rental units in CBRM, building extensive experience in property management, maintenance and residential tenancy matters.

That experience will inform the workshop, led by Isabelle Lalonde, New Dawn’s Senior Manager of Properties, who works directly with the Residential Tenancies Act as part of her day-to-day role.

“Working within the Residential Tenancies Act is my full-time job, and it isn’t simple, even for me,” said Lalonde. “The rules changed in 2024 and again in 2025, allowing landlords to serve a notice to quit when rent is just three days late, and the tenant only has 10 days to respond. If you’ve never dealt with the system before, that’s not a lot of time to plan your next steps while you’re worried about losing your home.”

The session will explain the conditions that form part of every tenancy, whether or not there is a signed lease, including responsibilities around repairs, notice of entry, locks and late fees. It will also cover the five per cent rent cap in place for 2026 and 2027, security deposits, and the circumstances and processes through which a tenancy can legally end.

“The Act is written for lawyers. My goal is to discuss it the way I would with a neighbour: here’s what you’re entitled to, here’s what’s expected of you, and here’s what happens if either side breaks the rules,” said Lalonde. “Renters in CBRM should know the steps before they need them.”

Participants will learn what happens when a tenancy dispute escalates, from filing an Application to the Director of Residential Tenancies through mediation and a telephone hearing, as well as appeals to Small Claims Court and the role of the Sheriff. The workshop will also explain what applicants and respondents are responsible for at each stage.

Four common tenancy situations will be used to walk participants through how the rules apply in practice: falling behind on rent, repairs that are not being completed, renovation-related evictions, and disputes involving security deposits and rent increases.

“A lot of the tenancy issues I’ve seen started with someone feeling anxious because they didn’t understand their rights and responsibilities and then avoiding the problem until it was too late,” Lalonde said. “When both sides know the rules, everyone feels empowered to have these conversations, and fewer people find themselves in a hearing that didn’t need to happen.”

The workshop will also point participants toward resources available when they need additional help, including Nova Scotia’s Residential Tenancies Program, Nova Scotia Legal Aid, Access Nova Scotia in Membertou and CBRM 311.

The New Dawn Tenant Advocacy Workshop takes place Tuesday, October 6, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the McConnell Library in Sydney. The event is walk-in and open to the public. While the session is primarily intended for renters, landlords are also welcome.

The evening will begin with an approximately 45-minute presentation, followed by an open question-and-answer session.

The workshop is intended to provide general information about residential tenancies and does not constitute legal advice.

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ABOUT NEW DAWN

New Dawn is Canada’s oldest Community Development Corporation. Since 1976, we’ve been working to create a more just, healthy, and self-determined community by responding to local needs and driving long-term, systems-level change. Today, New Dawn continues to focus on self-reliance, resilience, and community-led transformation. Every day, we engage thousands of community members and employ over 150 Cape Bretoners through programs and services that are practical, creative, and grounded in care. Our work spans health and social care, housing, the arts, youth and family services, immigration, and community development. Some of these services generate revenue, which we reinvest into our organization — fueling sustainability and deepening community impact.