Changes are coming to the NWT’s lease rent minimums and to fee structures on both Commissioner’s and Territorial Lands.
The Government of the Northwest Territories announced the approved changes on Monday.
There will be three changes made by the Department of Land:
- Lowering the percentage used when calculating residential lease rents on Commissioner’s Land from 10% to 5% of the assessed value.
- Increasing administrative fees.
- Increasing lease rent minimums.
Effective on Sunday, April 1st, The new lease rent minimum will be $840 per year. Anyone who currently pays less than $840 per year, will see their payment increase to the new minimum on their next rent review or lease renewal date. Anyone who pays more than $840 will not be affected.
The GNWT is working towards a land administration system that makes sense for all land users. In 2014, the Government became responsible for two separate land administration systems. Those two systems calculated rent and fees in two different ways. This meant that depending on which system was used to administer the land, residents were paying different amounts.
According to the Minister of Lands Louis Sebert, these changes are a step into the direction of helping correct those systems.
“These changes to lease rents and fees are part of the Government of the Northwest Territories work to update and modernize how it manages public land. As a government we are committed to making reasonable decisions to better align our two land administration systems and will focus on creating a more clear and consistent system for all land users.”
These announced changes are the first in over 20 years.
