Canadian resident couldn't rent apartment because she refused to pay illegal bail
The landlord demanded an additional fee, contrary to the law.
Halifax resident Kirsten Pirnell has been looking for a place to live for a long time. Recently, as she was about to sign her rental agreement, she encountered a demand from her landlord for additional "insurance premiums" equal to the first and last month's rent.
This amount, along with the usual bond, was almost $3,000 CAD. After researching the information, Kirsten found that such a requirement was contrary to the Residential Tenancies Act, and sought legal advice.
Lawyers confirmed that such a requirement is illegal. However, they noted that there is no way to sue the landlord without a contract in place.
According to the Residential Tenancies Act, "A landlord may not demand, accept or receive from a tenant as a deposit an amount of money ... exceeding one-half of the monthly rent. However, practice shows that most housing seekers are confronted with the requirement to pay illegal deposits.
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