A Halifax tenant says he’s being forced out of his home in a lease “loophole” allowing landlords to increase the rent. Jonathan Hird, a photography student, came home from class one day earlier this year to a note on his door, “which is usually not a good thing,” he said.
He’s been renting a one-bedroom apartment in the north end of Halifax, owned by Peppermint Properties, since September of 2021 on a fixed-term lease.
Hird was shocked to read the note informing him the landlord does not wish to renew his lease after it expires at the end of the summer. “I’ve had no issues as a tenant, no complaints, haven’t missed rent,” Hird said. “As I looked around the building, I saw six or seven other people who got these notices, that their leases are not going to be renewed.
They have to vacate the building at the end, and they have no options to stay in their apartments, pretty much.” Hird said he initially signed an annual lease with the property management, but after his first year there, they decided to change it to the fixed-term lease. “I hadn’t really heard much of fixed-term leases, I didn’t see much online so I just decided to, as it was what they were offering me, it seemed easy,” Hird said. “Looking back on that now, I realize that was a mistake.” Peppermint Properties, owned by Louis Wolfson, has not responded to a request for comment in time for publishing.