Universal rent structure coming for N.S. public housing tenants

A universal rent-payment structure is coming for those who live in public housing.

The province says over 1,400 tenants who still pay a fixed amount will move to the rentgeared-to-income model over the next four years.

That means they’ll pay no more than 30 percent of their income toward rent.

The move will start in November, tenants with higher incomes will see rent increase by five percent a year the first three years, then the full figure in year four.

Housing minister John Lohr says all Nova Scotians who need public housing need to be treated with fairness and consistency.

Nova Scotia has over 11,200 public housing units.