Nova Scotia Landlords Association


Welcome to the NSLA for Small Business Landlords

The Nova Scotia Landlords Association (NSLA) and its sister organization The Canada Landlords Association (CLA) are leading provincial and national organizations for private small residential landlords. We provide a unified voice for private landlords and promote and protect landlord interests to national and local government.

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  • Get advice from experienced landlords
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What’s Behind the Apartment Where Lucas was Killed?

July 7th, 2012

 

What’s the Story?

The landlord of an apartment in Halifax tried for months on end to receive help and get rid of the criminals in her building.

What’s the Significance of this Building?

This was the building where the person named “Corey Lucas” was shot.

Why Can’t the Government Help?

Recently, the Department of Justice evicted thw rotten tenants from the building, at last.

How Did they Do It?

They used the Act known as the “Safer Communities and Neighborhood Act.”

 Did It Achieve the Needed Results?

According to landlord Fatma Askri it was far too little and far too late.

What Happened?

A man named Lucas was shot to death May 25 in an apartment that William Lee Bolliver and his mother, Susan Ann Hawes, rented out.

That’s Horrible!

After two weeks, the building was raided by the  police and 3 people were arrested: Bolliver, Hawes and Harold William Marshall.

Anything Else?

Halifax Regional Police have said the search turned up crack cocaine, oxycodone, drug paraphernalia, even a  handgun, plus ammunition and money (cash).  These three were charged with several drug and weapons offences.

What Does the Landlord Have to Say About This?

Askri said she began trying to clean house herself back in February. At the time, she said she complained to the Residential Tenancies Board that there was drug dealing going on and that she believed her other tenants were in danger.

Askri said she was told that “even drug dealers need some place to live.”

What Else Did the Landlord Do to Try to Solve This?

Only three days before Lucas was murdered, the landlord Askri said she decided the only way to get rid of her troublesome tenants was to give everyone in the building notice to vacate due to renovations.  It didn’t work.

What is the Situation of the Building Now?

Askri said her building is empty and she was in the midst of moving the belongings of two tenants, now in jail, into storage. And she said she is still left holding the bag.

According to  the landlord: “I’m dealing with this the best way I can.”

Askri said she is required to move the goods into storage for a couple of months and then she can apply to dispose of them. All of that costs money, Askri said.

Now, this experienced landlord said she is also getting hassled by her bank.  The bank is concerned that her building is empty and she has no rental income coming in from those units.

“This is destroying my life and what I have worked for.”

Askri said the trouble in the building has also hurt her reputation because citizens believe she was endorsing the drug culture.

“I’ve never even had a parking ticket.”

Clifton St. evictions planned before shooting

July 10th, 2012

 

 

The landlord of a Halifax apartment building where a man was killed last month sent eviction notices to all of her tenants just days before the shooting.

Fatma Askri says she wants to dispel any notions about her property on Clifton Street.

“The shooting really destroyed me because I am not a crack landlord. I don’t run crack houses. I’m a very hardworking lady. I don’t run slum apartments,” she told CBC News on Tuesday.

Corey Duane Lucas was shot and killed in the building on May 25. Two weeks later, police returned to the property looking for drugs and weapons.

Halifax Regional Police said officers have been to the building 47 times since January 2011 — an average of nearly three times a month.

There are nine apartments in the building. Askri said it “became a crack house” when new tenants moved in to apartments 1 and 2.

Askri rented Apartment 2 to William Lee Bolliver and his mother, Susan Hawes, last October. They were arrested after a police raid Friday and charged with trafficking crack cocaine and oxycodone, and possession of a weapon.

Apartment 2 is where Lucas was gunned down. Bolliver was injured in the shooting. Black fingerprint dust was still visible on the door frame Tuesday.

Askri said she regrets ignoring the advice of her property managers when it came to renting to Hawes, who was on income assistance.

She didn’t do a criminal record check like she has done on other applicants.

Askri said Hawes called her crying, begging to be let into the building.

“I messed up with Hawes,” she said. “Because of my compassion, I messed up.”

When complaints about suspected drug activity started to pile up from tenants and neighbours in the upscale building next door, Askri decided the building needed a fresh start.

One month to leave

In mid-May, three days before Lucas was shot, Askri served all of her tenants with eviction notices. She said she told them it was due to repairs to the building.

“I took on myself to clean the building and start fresh again because bad apples spoil the rest of the basket,” she said.

Askri said she’s still shocked by the fatal shooting.

“I was devastated and I still am,” she said. “I didn’t expect this to happen in my building.”

The tenants have until June 22 to move out, but most are already gone. Askri said one woman who moved in last month is getting an extra few months to find a place because she’s such a new tenant.

Hawes, Bolliver and a co-accused are in custody awaiting a bail hearing next Monday.

Police have not arrested anyone in connection with Lucas’ death.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/story/2012/06/12/ns-halifax-clifton-street-eviction.html

Dear Halifax Landlords. My dog is less mess and noise then a kid

I just wanted to drop a line to all the landlords in Halifax that are anti-dog. I wish you knew how many amazing tenants you miss out on just because they have a dog. And I have to say I find it insulting that childern are ok but dogs are not. Kids are just as, if not more, smelly, destructive and loud as dogs. Stop with the hate. Add love to your leases. Or just an extra deposit if you have a dog. If I had breed myself an offspring I would be responsible for any damage it may incur. I assure you the same is for my furbaby. Damages are damages …yes?

 

http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:sofAae4eyGAJ:halifax.kijiji.ca/c-real-estate-house-rental-Dear-Halifax-Landlords-My-dog-is-less-mess-and-noise-then-a-kid-W0QQAdIdZ370866233+halifax+landlords&cd=7&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=ca&client=firefox-a

Calgary, Edmonton Vacancies Rates Decline!

June 29th , 2012

 

The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s 2012 Spring Market Rental Market Survey was released.

What is the News for Alberta Landlords?

It’s good news for Alberta landlords.  For the urban centers the vacancy rate was 4.7% in April 2011.  This decreased to a vacancy rate of 3% in April 2012.

That’s Great News!

According to the CMHC’s senior Calgary market analyst, Richard Cho, fifteen of the largest seventeen markets in Alberta saw a decrease in vacancy rates.

According to Cho, “The reduction in vacancies was largely attributed to robust job growth and rising migration.”  Cho explained “the resulting household formation contributed to rental demand.”

What About Calgary?

Cho stated the apartment vacancy rate in April 2012 declined compared to last year.  In April 2011 it was 3.4%.  In April 2012 is declined to 2.5%

And Edmonton?

According to the CHMC’s senior market analyst for Edmonton the news is even better.  In 2011 the vacancy rate was 4.7% and dropped to 2.7% in 2012!    Christina Butchart said the 2012 Edmonton vacancy rate is the lowest since Spring, 2007.

Exactly Why are Rents Going Up?

The decrease is largely due to a strong economy, more jobs, and increased migration flows.  Cho stated it’s all about supply and demand.  He added that as vacancy rated drop and there is stronger demand for rental properties, rental rates are also going up.

Can You Provide Me With and Example on How Rents Are Rising?

According to Cho, rents increase 5% from 2011 to 2012 for a two bedroom rental in Calgary.  In Edmonton, rents are up 2.2% compared to last year.

It looks like the future is bright for Alberta landlords!

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