Why Enforcement of the Residential Tenancies Act Matters

Why Enforcement of the Residential Tenancies Act Matters

Laws are only as effective as their enforcement. The Residential Tenancies Act exists to protect tenants and landlords, but without proper oversight and action from the government, these protections become meaningless. When enforcement is weak or nonexistent, bad actors exploit the system—tenants are left dealing with illegal evictions, unaddressed repairs, and unfair treatment, while responsible landlords face an uneven playing field.

The government has a duty to uphold the laws it creates. When they fail to enforce the law, they allow housing instability to grow, pushing vulnerable people closer to homelessness and leaving landlords with no real recourse against problem tenants. Promises of action mean nothing without follow-through. This page tracks how long we’ve been waiting for the government to make good on its commitments—because tenants and landlords deserve better.

Current Minister Responsible for Residential Tenancies

Elvis Loveless
Minister of Digital Government and Service Newfoundland and Labrador (since July 19, 2024)
43-45 Canada Drive, Harbour Breton, NL A0H 1P0

 

Here are the number of days….

That the government has neglected to properly enforce the Residential Tenancies Act (at least Jan 1, 1990):
35 years 2 months 27 days
Since the Department of Digital Government and Service NL promised to address the lack of enforcement (Dec 7, 2023):
1 years 2 months 24 days
Since the Department of Digital Government and Service NL said in the media "We are committed to working towards initiating proceedings under Section 51 of the act as warranted" (Jan 11, 2024):
1 years 1 months 19 days
Commitment
[com·​mit·​ment] Noun
  • A pledge or promise;
  • An agreement or pledge to do something
Since Minister Stoodley said enforcement activities would begin "soon" (Apr 17, 2024):
312 days
Soon
[soon] Adverb
  • Within a short period;
  • In a prompt manner
Since Minister Loveless assumed responsibility of the Department of Digital Government and Service NL (Jul 19, 2024):
219 days
Since Minister Loveless said enforcement activities would begin "in the coming weeks" (Sep 3, 2024):
24 weeks
Since Minister Loveless said "commencement is imminent" in regards to enforcement activities: (Oct 24, 2024)
122 days
Imminent
[im·​mi·​nent] Adjective
  • About to happen;
  • Likely to occur at any moment

 

What can you do to help?

The most effective way to push for enforcement of the Residential Tenancies Act is to make your voice heard. Elected officials work for the public, and if they don’t hear from you, they have no reason to act.

Start by contacting the minister responsible, listed at the top of this page. Let them know that enforcement of the Residential Tenancies Act matters to you and that government inaction is unacceptable. You can also reach out to your local Member of the House of Assembly (MHA). A full list of MHAs, along with their contact information, can be found here.

Tell them why enforcement is important, share your experiences, and demand accountability. Change happens when enough people speak up!