Landlord Services
Ansell Management offers four main services for landlords. Click the numbered windows to learn more.
- Property Management
- Rental Services
- Property Checks
- Vacation Rentals
1. Property Management
Let Ansell expertly care for your property. We can remove the worry and free up your time by overseeing paperwork, hiring tradespeople, attending to emergencies, chasing rent and so much more. Time is money and for many property investors your time is better spent focusing on growing your property portfolio. Our goal is to maximize your income while minimizing vacancies.
2. Rental Services
Some clients may not need a property manager long term but don’t want the hassle of advertising and finding tenants for a vacant property. No worries, Ansell can provide this service! We can take care of the advertising, arrange showings, process applications until we find the right tenant and leave the rest to you. Tell us what your rental needs are and we’ll customize a rental services package for you!
3. Property Checks
If you own rental properties and need someone to keep an eye on things while you travel for work or vacation Ansell can take care of that for you. We offer weekly, bi-weekly, monthly Property Checks at a flat rate depending on the length of service needed. Perhaps you are Snowbirds and your home is vacant during the winter and you like someone to do walkthroughs from time to time just to make sure your home is safe & secure, we can take care of that! Let Ansell remove the worry so you can focus on your vacation or other priorities!
4. Vacation Rentals
Our Property Manager, Merrill has extensive experience managing Vacation Properties along the South Shore of Nova Scotia. If you have a year-round, seasonal or Air B&B rental property that you’re having challenges maintaining or finding the right guests for, Merrill has the expertise to advertise your property, screen guests, manage your rental calendar, meet guests at check in and be their point of contact during their stay and arrange & supervise cleanings between stays. We have the know how to maximize your Air B&B rating so that your property listing is reaching is full potential.
Why hire a property manager?
Find the Right Tenants
A competent property manager adds significant value to your investment, by maximizing your rental income and minimizing expenses with routine maintenance and reliable tenants. Ansell’s management services put home-owners first. Ansell Property Management knows how to screen for the real facts about candidates and analyze that information to find tenants who:
- Pay on time
- Rent longer
- Care for the property, treating it like a home
- Minimal needs resulting in fewer problems
Risk Mitigation
Experienced landlords know it only takes one troublesome tenant to cause significant legal and financial headaches. Ansell Property Management has years of experience and the knowledge of the latest landlord-tenant laws that will ensure you are not leaving yourself vulnerable to potential problems. Careful measures are taken to protect clients, through:
- Sound knowledge of each property
- Safety requirements, Inspections & Evictions
- Lease addendums & Terminating leases
- Rent collection & Handling security deposits
Ansell Property Management will perform essential duties to minimize vacancies and secure long term tenants:
- Improve and prepare the property for rent – To learn everything there is to know about your property we will do a thorough walk through the premises and grounds. When necessary, cosmetic improvements will be suggested and Ansell’s team of professional tradespersons can be enlisted to maximize revenue.
- Determine the best rent rate – Too high and your property remains vacant, to low and you’re losing money. Determining the optimal price requires experience in assessing the property, knowledge of the local market, and reviewing data on similar properties recently rented.
- Effectively market your property – By using quality photos and carefully drafted advertisements we have the experience to successfully market your property to the right platform in order to reach potential tenants in a timely manner.
- Rent collection process – You won’t have to listen to tenant excuses, chase down rent or worry about evicting a tenant. Ansell Property Management will assume all these responsibilities and enforce lease terms so your tenant consistently meets their payment obligations.
- Minimum maintenance & low repair cost – We have a team of professional contractors and tradespeople that have guaranteed quality work at fair prices. We have found that ongoing maintenance and repairs keep tenants happy and preserve the value of your investment
Why Ansell Property Management?
Ultimately, Ansell Property Management is looking to provide quality homes to great tenants. We care about your property and we have a proven track record of excellent customer service. Whether it’s a single family home, condo or a mulit- unit building property owners need trustworthy professionals to remove the work and stress of being a landlord.
Our job is to remove the worry. With Ansell, you won’t have to deal with endless paperwork, hiring tradespeople for repairs, late night emergencies, chasing down rent, or worse having to evict unwanted tenants from your property. We do all that and more, freeing up your time so you can spend it with family, focus on your career or simply do the things you enjoy the most. Time is money and for many property investors your time is better spent focusing on growing your property portfolio and developing your business.
We are prepared to make critical decisions on your behalf to protect your investment. Our goal is to maximize your income while minimizing vacancies. We will provide creative marketing solutions, screen applicants, communicate expectations to tenants, schedule maintenance and property checks – taking responsibility for the things you don’t have time for.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long are rental agreements for?
Is a signed lease required?
Is a signed move in/move out inspection report required?
What are security deposits?
Can tenants be charged for keys?
Can a landlord request post dated cheques?
How much notice is required to renew a lease?
If a tenant wishes to change their lease to a month-to month tenancy they must give 3 months notice to the landlord who must approve the change.
How can a lease be terminated?
Fixed term leases have an end date and expire automatically if the term is not renewed by agreement prior to the end date. Once a fixed term expires, the landlord no longer has any obligation to the tenant. A Tenant cannot give notice to quit unless lease unless the tenant has been victim to domestic violence by giving one month’s notification to the landlord and providing a Certificate Confirming Grounds to Terminate Tenancy Due to Domestic Violence, which is issued by the Director of Victim Services within 60 days of issue of the certificate.
Tenants with a periodic lease are automatically granted tenure. This means that their lease cannot be terminated without a valid reason from the landlord
A tenant can terminate the lease, in writing, with adequate notice as follows:
1. Year-to-year lease: tenant must provide landlord with 3 month’s advance notice
2. Month-month lease: tenant must provide landlord with one month advance notice
3. Week-to-week lease: tenant must provide landlord with 1 week advance notice.
How does a sublet work?
What is an allowable rent increase?
Access Nova Scotia’s Residential Tenancies Program publishes an Annual Allowable Rent Increase Amount (AARIA) for land lease communities, which landlords are required to refer to when determining how much to increase a tenant’s rent.
When is rent considered late?
15 days in a month-to-month lease
7 days in a week-to-week lease,
30 days for tenants living in manufactured homes
In most leases, after a period of 15 days, the landlord can issue a notice to quit to the tenant, giving the tenant 15 days to pay their rent in full or vacate the property. If the tenant fails to take any action, the landlord can serve them with an order for immediate vacancy.
What are reasonable grounds for eviction?
If the rent has not been paid in 15 days o
If the tenant violates the statutory conditions in the Act.
The landlord is required to file for a hearing to have a judgement issued or to mediate. In a hearing, the landlord and tenant will each be heard and they may bring forth evidence to support their case. A Residential Tenancies Officer will make the final judgment and will issue an order to one or both parties. The landlord must take the order issued to the court administrative offices to have it converted into an eviction order that only the Sheriff’s office is able to enforce. There may be some delays in obtaining the eviction order if the tenant appeals the officer’s decision to Small Claims Court.
How much notice is required to enter a unit?
May the tenant withhold rent for repairs?
Can a tenant change the locks?
Is a landlord allowed to refuse to rent to a tenant who has pets?
Rules that landlords set must apply to all tenants living in the same complex/property and all tenants must receive a copy of the rules before signing a lease. A landlord can choose to change the rules, by giving tenants 4 months written notice prior to the lease anniversary.
Can a landlord include a no-smoking clause in the lease?
If the tenant violates a clause in the lease, can the landlord evict the tenant?
Important Links
Important Information
Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations — Residential Tenancies
Toll-free within Nova Scotia: 1-800-670-4357
Bayers Lake Business Park
Halifax, NS B3S 0B7
Unit #134
Dartmouth NS B2W 6A3
Rental Guides by Topic
- Tenant’s Guide to Residential Tenancies
- Exploring Your Options for Resolving Disputes
- Mediation and Hearings
- After the Hearing — What Now?
Acts and Statues
- Residential Tenancies Act (See provincial contact, above.)
- Residential Tenancies Regulations (See provincial contact, above.)
- Residential Tenancy Branch
- Human Rights Commission – This Web site provides an overview of the commission, the complaint process and a variety of information related to the commission.
- Department of Community Services – The information provided is brief, but the list of programs and services available is quite useful.
- Department of Seniors – Provides a number of services to seniors in the province including housing assistance.