As a renter, you are encouraged to review the Nova Scotia Renting Guide.
This guide includes information on: renting apartments; mobile and tiny homes; the rules of a tenancy contract and how to abide by them; handling crime, discrimination, and stressful situations; what your landlord legally can and cannot do; and finally, how to be a good tenant and community member.
You can also use the I.M. WELL service for a free 1-hour legal consultation.
Tenant Insurance
Some landlords may require you to have tenant insurance as part of your lease, but even if it's not required, it's often a good idea to have and it's usually quite affordable. Your landlord will insure their building, but that may not provide protection or reimbursement for you in the event of an accident, theft, or disaster.
Tenant insurance usually includes:
- Coverage of damage or theft of your possessions
- Liability insurance if a guest injures themselves in your rental unit or if someone accidentally causes damage to the property
- Living expenses if you need to temporarily move out because of a fire, flood, etc.
Noise, parties, alcohol, and other bylaws
The Town of Wolfville has an Excessive Noise Bylaw that includes issues like:
- Noise which disturbs or disturbs the peace and tranquility of the community.
- Operating sound systems are a level resulting in sound being heard in another unit or building.
Fines range from $200-$900. However, it's easy to have fun and gather with your friends without bothering others. Just consider a few things:
Be mindful of the time.
Although the bylaw applies to any time of day (not just the nighttime), the later it gets, the more noise tends to disrupt and affect people. Keep in mind that other people may have very different work, study, and sleep schedules.
Keep the noise reasonable and gather inside.
Gathering inside and closing the windows will reduce how much sound travels and impacts others.
Talk to your neighbours to gauge their expectations when it comes to noise.
Exchange contact information so you can resolve any issues before they turn into a complaint. Having this conversation will help maintain a good relationship with your neighbours, and it helps create mutual respect.
Be in Control of your Social Gatherings
The Town of Wolfville has a Nuisance Party Bylaw that puts responsibility on the host of a social gathering to control overall behaviour. When behaviour becomes a nuisance, Wolfville Compliance Officers and RCMP have the authority to intervene.
A nuisance includes the following behaviour:
- Public intoxication
- Excessive noise
- Deposit of litter on public or private property
- Damage to property - public urination or defecation
- Unauthorized open burning
- Obstruction of vehicular or pedestrian traffic
- Public disturbance, which includes confrontation or violence
- Unlawful sale or distribution of alcohol or controlled substances
- Use or entry upon a roof
Nuisance Party Orders (Warnings) and Summary Offence Tickets can be issued to the property tenants as well as party attendees. Fines can range from $582.50-$1157.50.
To have a good party without being ticketed, keep in mind our tips for managing noise, and also:
- Tell your neighbours when you are planning a social gathering and a name and number they can contact if there are issues.
- Keep the overall number of guests reasonable, and only invite those you know within your social circle.
- Have a team of sober people to help manage your party.
- Contact the Compliance Coordinator if you have any questions or concerns about hosting a gathering.
- If your gathering starts to get larger then you expected, call the RCMP to help crowd control and remove unwanted guests.
Open Alcohol
Under provincial law, no open alcohol is permitted in public spaces such as outside of any residence buildings, on campus grounds, or in the Town of Wolfville.
Open alcohol is any alcohol in a container that has been open or unsealed, like a cup, mug, can, or bottle, even if you aren't drinking it when the officer speaks to you.
To avoid a ticket, don't carry open alcohol. This means that if you're leaving a party or residence, you should dump your drink and properly dispose of the bottle or can. Carry your unopened alcohol in a bag.
Property Bylaws
The Town's Property Minimum Standards Bylaw outlines the responsibilities of tenants and property owners.
- Tenants or owners of a building shall maintain the building to standards as provided in this bylaw.
- Tenants or owners shall keep yards free of garbage and debris.
- Tenants or owners shall ensure any furniture designed and manufactured for indoor use shall not be placed outside a dwelling.
Other sections of bylaw cover, grounds and lawns, walks, steps, driveways and parking areas, storage of waste and resource materials, and standards for buildings.
Property Minimum Standards Bylaw (PDF)
If you have issues with your building or you notice a property not complying with the minimum standards and would like to report this to the Town, you can contact Kaden Thibeau, Community Compliance Coordinator, kthibault@wolfville.ca.
Student Code of Conduct
Acadia investigates and responds to off-campus violations by current Acadia students where the complainant is a member of the Acadia community and/or the matter has been referred by the Town of Wolfville and/or RCMP. Violations of the Town of Wolfville’s Excessive Noise Bylaw and Nuisance Party Bylaw are regularly referred to the University for follow-up.
To file a complaint, receive further explanation of process/charges or ask questions about the conduct process, contact Olivia Lynch, Coordinator, Student Conduct and Community Support.
Legal Support for Tenants
As part of the support services available to you from the ASU, you get a free legal consultation by calling I.M. WELL at 1-877-55-IMWELL (46935) or requesting the service online.
- You'll need to sign in on this platform or register an account. You can use your Acadia email as your username and create a password.
- To request counselling services, you are required to complete the intake form. There is a question about which type of counselling you are requesting. From the dropdown menu, you can select the sixth option, legal consultation.