Nova Scotia landlords can ask for a security deposit of up to half a month's rent. Work out the limit for your rent and the interest owed.
Largest total deposit allowed
$900.00
The most a landlord can ask for is $900.00. The 2026 interest rate is 0%, so no interest builds up this year.
| Deposit limit | Up to half of one month's rent, held in a trust account. Any money a landlord takes besides rent counts as security deposit. |
|---|---|
| Pet deposits | A landlord cannot charge an extra deposit for pets. Any extra money counts toward the single deposit, capped at half a month's rent. |
| Interest | The rate has been 0% since January 1, 2013, compounded annually. Deposits held before then still earn the older rates for those years. |
| Returning the deposit | Within 10 days after the lease ends, the landlord returns the deposit with interest, or files a Security Deposit Claim (Form R) within the same 10 days to keep some of it. |
| Disputes | Residential Tenancies Program |
The calculator multiplies the monthly rent by the fraction of a month the province allows and rounds down to the cent. It then shows one year of interest at the 2026 rate.
Largest security deposit = monthly rent x 0.5, rounded down to the centOne year of interest = total deposit x 0 / 100Say the rent is $1,800 a month.
| Step | How | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Security deposit | $1,800 x 0.5 | $900.00 |
| Largest total deposit | Same as above | $900.00 |
| One year of interest | $900.00 x 0 / 100 | $0.00 |
The most a landlord can ask for is $900.00. The 2026 interest rate is 0%, so no interest builds up this year.
This page explains the general rules for private rentals and is not legal advice. Rules differ for some kinds of housing, and they change. For a specific situation, check with the Residential Tenancies Program.
Checked against these official sources on September 27, 2026:
Up to half of one month's rent, held in a trust account. Any money a landlord takes besides rent counts as security deposit.
A landlord cannot charge an extra deposit for pets. Any extra money counts toward the single deposit, capped at half a month's rent.
The rate has been 0% since January 1, 2013, compounded annually. Deposits held before then still earn the older rates for those years.
Within 10 days after the lease ends, the landlord returns the deposit with interest, or files a Security Deposit Claim (Form R) within the same 10 days to keep some of it.
Find the earliest date a month-to-month tenancy can end when a tenant gives notice, under your province's rules.
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