Bayers Park ACORN Tenant Union Calls Out Rotten Rentals and Demands a Rental Registry That Works

On Saturday, August 15, more than 30 ACORN members gathered outside 6967 and 6969 Bayers Road to put a spotlight on the conditions tenants have been forced to live with in these buildings for years.

Mice and cockroaches. Leaks, water damage, and mold. Holes in the walls. Broken elevators and laundry machines. Repairs left unfinished for months or even years. Water shutoffs that leave tenants without water for hours and hours at a time. These are just some of the issues ACORN members at Bayers Park have been organizing against.

The action brought the whole community together. Kids from the buildings joined their neighbours in cheering and chanting, bringing plenty of energy to the crowd as tenants stood up and shared their experiences. Their presence made it clear that the fight for safe, healthy homes affects everyone.

After Bayers Park ACORN members shared testimonials about their experiences, we unveiled the “Thirsty Mouse Award” trophy, recognizing the buildings owned by Universal Properties for their long-running issues with water shutoffs and pest infestations. After the action, ACORN members delivered a demand letter to the management office to ask for a meeting with Universal Properties CEO Mani Suissa to discuss our members’ concerns.

ACORN members made clear that Bayers Park is just one example of a much bigger problem across Halifax Region. ACORN members from all across the city have been reporting serious pest infestations, leaks, mold, broken windows and other long-standing maintenance problems which are often ignored by landlords for months or even years without being addressed.

That’s why ACORN is fighting to Fix the Rental Registry.

ACORN members organized for years to win HRM’s Rental Registry, which took effect in 2024. It was a major victory for tenants—but simply registering rental properties isn’t enough if the city isn’t using the program to proactively identify and address dangerous building conditions.

Now, ACORN is calling on HRM Council to strengthen the Rental Registry and give it the teeth needed to actually protect tenants.

ACORN is calling on HRM to:

• Strengthen the Building Standards bylaw to cover mold, amenities, and clear pest-control treatment protocols.
• Hire more inspectors so the city can proactively inspect and enforce building standards.
• Make building conditions public through a colour-coded grading system that clearly shows which buildings are passing and which are failing.
• Expand tenant education so renters know how to report problems through 311.
• Fund a stronger Rental Registry program through a small annual per-unit registration fee paid by landlords.

Want to help make HRM’s Rental Registry actually work for tenants?

 Tell HRM Council: Strengthen the Rental Registry and Protect Tenants

Send a message to HRM Council and demand a Rental Registry that doesn’t just collect information about rental properties—it takes action when landlords let buildings rot.

The Rotten Rentals Awards are only getting started. ACORN members across HRM are organizing to expose rotten rental conditions and demand a Rental Registry with the teeth needed to hold negligent landlords accountable.

 Want to help fight for better rental housing across HRM?

Join ACORN’s Fix Our Rentals Forum on Monday, September 21st at 6PM at the Halifax Central Library. Tenants from across the city will come together to share their experiences and demand action from HRM.

Don’t let our rentals rot. Fix the Rental Registry!