Why Aren’t All Nova Scotia Apartments Furnished? And How Can You Reduce Furniture Waste While Moving?
By Eleanor Willner-Fraser, NSEN Community Engagement Volunteer
It’s a common sight every year in Halifax as we approach May 1st, when many student leases change: mattresses, couches, desks, and other unwanted furniture discarded at the curb. Officially, residents of single-unit homes can put out one bulky item per garbage collection day—which occurs every other week—while buildings with up to six units can put out two bulky items. However, not all students seem to be following the rules in their desperate effort to get rid of items before moving to another apartment or heading back to their home province for the summer. It always seems like a shame to see so many furniture items left outside as junk instead of being used for their full life cycle.
Over the past few years, there has been a shift toward “fast furniture”—cheap, poor-quality furniture that consumers may treat as disposable. These items tend to be manufactured overseas, with a complex supply chain and increased carbon emissions from transportation. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, Americans generated 12.1 million tons of furniture waste in 2018—up from 8.1 million tons in 2000. Although 19.5% of that furniture was combusted to produce energy, 80.1% went to landfill. Furniture can be challenging to recycle since it’s often made of several different materials.
Of course, some of the tables and other items left at Halifax curbs are snapped up quickly, but many languish there for days or maybe even weeks. It seemed to me that one reason for students wasting so much furniture is that some apartments come furnished, while others do not. I was curious why this is since it would be much simpler if every apartment was furnished and renters did not have to worry about finding, moving, and disposing of furniture.
The legislation that governs apartments in Nova Scotia is the Nova Scotia Residential Tenancies Act, along with regulations that provide more detail about the Act’s application. Neither the Residential Tenancies Act nor the Residential Tenancies Regulations mention furniture, other than the option of including furniture as one of the appliances on the lease. It’s standard for the landlord to provide a stove and refrigerator as appliances. A washer and dryer, dishwasher, and furniture move into the realm of luxuries.
The Residential Tenancies Act is amended periodically. Theoretically, the government could add a requirement for landlords to provide furniture, with a grandfather clause so that existing landlords do not need to make the change immediately. In practice, making furnished apartments mandatory would bring up a whole host of complications, from the question of what must be included in a furnished apartment to the amount of the security deposit and the landlord’s responsibility to repair damaged furniture. In France, for example, the government had to issue a decree clarifying the minimum furniture for an apartment to be considered furnished since French tenants have different rights depending on the type of apartment.
Existing furnished apartments in Nova Scotia are often short-term rentals, such as executive suites, vacation rentals, and summer sublets. There are also some long-term rentals, including furnished rooms in houses and apartment buildings geared for students. Furnished apartments range from only providing basic furniture like a bed and table to including bedding, dishes, and even housekeeping services in the rent. They’re convenient for transient populations, including international students, corporate travellers, and people relocating for work. The tenant does not need to buy furniture and will enjoy a less-stressful move and more flexibility. On the other hand, rent for furnished apartments tends to be higher and the tenant has to be especially careful not to damage the furniture. He or she also lacks control over the furnishings.
From a landlord’s perspective, the main advantage to renting out furnished apartments would be the ability to charge higher rent. Longtime Halifax landlord Doran Donovan, who rents out 12 apartments—mostly to students—noted by email that “renting apartments furnished would be very challenging to keep all the furniture in good condition and clean from one tenant to the next tenant, and most tenants would not want to have used mattresses.” He also mentioned the “costs in replacing and repairing the furniture.”
It seems that there are some downsides to furnished apartments, no matter how convenient these rentals might appear to tenants. What about unfurnished apartments? They can be a good option for tenants who are ready to settle down. Renters get to choose their own furniture and enjoy long-term savings through their rent generally being lower. On the other hand, they need to buy furniture, move it, and potentially store it or dispose of it. For landlords, although they may receive less rent, they tend to have lower maintenance costs and tenants that stay longer-term.
It seems unlikely that the provincial government will make furnished apartments mandatory anytime soon. If it’s up to landlords, the situation is unlikely to change overnight—if ever. As eco-conscious tenants in Nova Scotia, what can we do when moving or replacing furniture, other than dump at the curb and hope for the best? Classic choices are holding a garage sale and donating to thrift stores. Don’t forget to check with family and friends since they may be looking for exactly what you wish to give away.
On that note, the Halifax Regional Municipality typically holds a Curbside Give Away Weekend in June and October, where renters and homeowners can put out unwanted items and hunt for desired ones. A similar idea is the Dump and Run events held annually in Halifax and Wolfville, where students and community members can donate furniture and other household items. The items are sold at a large indoor garage sale, with the proceeds going to charity. Unfortunately, the 2021 Dump and Run events are cancelled due to public health precautions.
There are several online groups for giving away or selling used items. These groups are helpful year-round for reducing the number of items that you own and finding things that you need or want within the local community. The Freecycle Network enables members to give away items for free, with groups available throughout Nova Scotia. The Buy Nothing Project is another network for giving away and requesting free goods and services, with several local groups in Cape Breton. There are also platforms like Kijiji and Facebook Marketplace and local Facebook groups for selling and giving away items. Another option is renting furniture if you only need it short-term.
Want to join the discussion? What has your experience been with renting furnished or unfurnished apartments in Nova Scotia? Do you know any other tips or resources for finding and disposing of furniture more sustainably?