Energize Bridgewater Launches Affordable Multifamily Housing Stream
*This blog post was written on April 4, 2023. For the most up-to-date program information, visit our Affordable Multifamily Housing page.
Energize Bridgewater and Efficiency Nova Scotia are pleased to announce the Affordable Multifamily Housing stream of the Energize Bridgewater program launching on April 4, 2023. Qualifying landlords can access rebates of up to 80% of the cost of energy efficient upgrades. In exchange, landlords sign a Comprehensive Affordable Housing Agreement to keep rents at an affordable rate for 12 years. The agreement covers 4 units or 30% of the units in the building, whichever number is higher. The rental rates are defined by Efficiency Nova Scotia.
Landlords have the opportunity to make investments in their property that will pay off now and in the long-term. We’ll help cover the expense of recommended upgrades which may include space and water heating, window and door replacements, attic, wall and basement insulation, and more.
Benefits to Participating Landlords & Tenants
Lower energy costs for the long-term
Reduced maintenance costs
Improved comfort for tenants
Upgraded building aesthetics
One-on-one project support from Efficiency Nova Scotia’s experts
Interested landlords can learn more on our website, or read the program overview.
Energize Bridgewater Home Upgrades, delivered by the Town of Bridgewater, has been serving homeowners in Bridgewater since December 1, 2022. Income-qualified homeowners can get no-cost home energy upgrades, packaged together with financing, grants, and incentives to significantly reduce their home energy costs. Meanwhile, the South Shore Open Doors Association (SSODA) has been supporting people experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity. Part of what we heard during our first phase was that helping homeowners is great, but there needs to be a stream that supports the thousands of people who rent in Bridgewater too.
The Affordable Multifamily Housing stream fills some of those gaps. By supporting landlords to make their buildings more energy efficient, we are also supporting tenants with affordable rental rates through the operating agreement that landlords sign, as well as lower energy costs. The Affordable Multifamily Housing stream is a win-win for property owners (property value goes up) and those who rent and pay for their own utilities (utility costs will be lower, making renting more affordable). We are working together with partners and the community to make our program more accessible to those who need it most.
We are excited to offer this new program to help us reach our target of reducing the rate of energy poverty in Bridgewater by 20% by 2026. All our programs are helping us work towards that goal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are landlords getting rebates through a Town program?
Energize Bridgewater is focused on helping those who are struggling the most in our community to pay for their heat and electricity costs. The Affordable Multifamily Housing program is designed to offer an incentive to landlords to reduce costs of heating, electricity, and rental rates for tenants. At the same time, landlords can increase the value of their properties by installing high-quality energy-efficient insulation, heat pumps, and more.
Municipalities do not have a legal way to require landlords to maintain their rental rates, to include utilities in their rents, or to make their buildings more energy efficient if tenants are paying for utilities. We can only provide incentives to encourage landlords to make their buildings more efficient and in exchange, we are gaining the benefit of more affordable rents for tenants and the community.
The program helps to motivate landlords to make improvements to buildings that they might not otherwise make. The improvements (which would make the building more energy efficient) will benefit the tenants living there who are responsible for paying their own power bills.
The Town is not funding the rebates. Please see the question below for more information about where the funds come from for the rebates.
Are taxpayers' dollars being given to landlords?
The Town of Bridgewater is not funding the rebates to landlords for the Affordable Multifamily Housing stream of the Energize Bridgewater program. No funds from property taxes in Bridgewater are going into the program. The rebates are being provided by Efficiency Nova Scotia, who are primarily funded by Nova Scotia Power and the Province of Nova Scotia. You can learn more about how Efficiency Nova Scotia is funded in their 2021 Financial Analysis from their Annual Report.
How do we define “affordable housing”?
The affordable rents required as part of the Affordable Multifamily Housing stream of Energize Bridgewater have been defined by Efficiency Nova Scotia. The maximum allowable rent for a 1-bedroom apartment that doesn’t include utilities is defined as $668/month, and a 2-bedroom is defined as $893/month. There is a table in the Comprehensive Affordable Housing Agreement with further details. The rental rates consider whether or not utilities are included in the rent.
Can landlords increase rent for tenants?
If the building has more than 4 units, a portion of the units in the building will not be rent controlled under the legal agreement that landlords must sign to participate in the program. The units that are not covered under the agreement would be rented for market rates while conforming to the Residential Tenancies Act and any other provincial regulations that may apply to the landlord and tenant relationship. For the units that are rent controlled as part of the agreement, rental rate increases can happen yearly but cannot exceed the Nova Scotia all-item Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the duration of the agreement.
Who can apply?
Affordable Rentals (4+ units) - Must meet the maximum rental rate criteria in the Comprehensive Affordable Housing Agreement.
Co-operatives - Must have 4 or more units in the same building and meet the maximum rental rate criteria in the Comprehensive Affordable Housing Agreement.
Rooming Houses - Must have 4 or more rooms, be a rooming house and meet the specific requirements for this property type as laid out in the maximum rental rate criteria in the Comprehensive Affordable Housing Agreement.
How do I apply?
Landlords can apply online today, request more information, or visit our website for more details. If you prefer, we can help you fill in a paper copy of the application form. You can call us at (902) 530-3621 or email us at info@energizebridgewater.ca and we can set up a time to connect.