The Law Reform Commission of Saskatchewan releases Life Lease Consultation Report and survey

Key Points:

• Life lease housing developments are increasingly popular housing options for seniors.
• Saskatchewan's residential tenancies legislation does not apply to life leases.
• The Commission is considering if there should be legislation to regulate life lease developments.
  
• Read the Life Lease Consultation Report and complete the Survey.
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​Life lease housing developments are an increasingly popular housing option for seniors across Canada. A life lease is a hybrid type of tenure arising from a contract that permits the purchaser to occupy a residence for life in exchange for an initial lump sum payment (typically referred to as an entrance fee) and the payment of ongoing monthly sums (which can cover both operating expenses and rent, depending on the size of the initial lump sum payment). Life leases grant a right to occupy; life lease holders do not own the property they are occupying.

Saskatchewan’s residential tenancies legislation does not apply to life leases. The Condominium Property Act, 1993 also does not apply to life leases. The result is that the rights and obligations of life lease holders are largely governed by the terms of the life lease agreement entered into with the project sponsor

The Commission is considering whether Saskatchewan should enact legislation to regulate life lease developments.

This survey replicates the questions set forth in the Commission's consultation paper.  The consultation paper can be viewed on the Commission's website (https://lawreformcommission.sk.ca/publications/).

The public consultation period for this project ends on May 31, 2019.