Housing rights

Associated with the page Housing and neighborhood

Are you planning to move?

Start looking for your new home today!

The Société d’habitation du Québec recommends starting the search for a new home as soon as possible when planning a move. This increases the chances of finding a home that meets the needs of the individual or household.

We strongly advise you not to terminate your lease until you have found a new home and signed a new lease. Searching early allows you to :

More choice;
Avoid last-minute stress;
Better plan your move.

The SHQ also provides simple information to help plan a move. This advice can support you every step of the way, from the start of the search to the signing of the lease.

See SHQ tools and tips

Lease renewal: rights and obligations

Lease renewal can raise a number of questions: deadlines, refusals, rent increases, steps to follow. Here’s a summary of your rights and obligations as a tenant in Quebec.

1. When must the owner send a notice?

For a lease of 12 months or more, the landlord must give written notice 3 to 6 months before the end of the lease if he or she wishes to :

increase the rent
modify a lease condition (e.g. animals, parking, etc.);
terminate the lease.

Example
If your lease ends on June 30, you must receive a notice between January 1 and March 31.

2. You have 30 days to respond

After receiving the notice, you have 30 days to respond. You can :

accept the proposed changes;
refuse the modifications and remain in the dwelling;
inform the landlord that you will be leaving at the end of the lease.

3. Never terminate your lease before you’ve found another home.

In times of housing shortage, it is strongly recommended not to leave or terminate your lease until you have found a new home AND signed a new lease.

4. If rent increases are an issue

The first step is always an amicable discussion between tenant and landlord. If you refuse the proposed increase, you must :

Send a written notice of refusal to the owner, within 30 days of receiving the notice.

After your refusal: what happens?

a) The owner has 1 month to appeal to the Housing Administrative Tribunal (TAL)
NLP can :
- Set a new rent by law;
- Propose mediation to reach a mutually acceptable increase.

b) If the owner takes no action
- The lease is automatically renewed
- Under the same conditions
- And at the same rent as the previous year.

Workshops on tenants’ rights

Every year, Ville de Brossard, in partnership with Comité logement Rive-Sud, offers information workshops to help tenants better understand their rights.

These workshops cover

Recourse options;
Lease renewals and amendments;
Retention;
Rent increases.

Find out more about Comité logement Rive-Sud ‘s services:
https://www.comite-logement.org/

Dates of upcoming workshops will be announced on our website, on our social networks and in our newsletter. We invite you to follow them so you don’t miss a thing

Protecting seniors from repossession and eviction

In certain situations, seniors are protected when a home is repossessed or evicted.

To be eligible, the tenant (or his or her spouse) must :

be 65 years of age or older;
have occupied the property for at least 10 years;
have an income equal to or less than 125% of the maximum eligible income for low-cost housing.

When these conditions are met, repossession or eviction is generally not permitted, except in certain cases provided for by law.

Useful resources – Seniors and housing

- Montérégie Neighborhood Justice Center
  - - Free legal information.
    - https://info-justice.ca/centres/monteregie/

- FADOQ – Seniors’ Network
  - - Support, advocacy and accompaniment.
    - https://www.fadoq.ca

Pets and accommodation

The landlord may authorize or prohibit the presence of animals in the lease.
When there is no prohibition in the lease or building by-laws, the presence of an animal is generally permitted.

Tenant’s obligations

The tenant must :

avoid noise and nuisance ;
keep the premises clean ;
prevent damage ;
ensure that the animal does not disturb the other occupants.

To find out more, or if you have any other questions, we invite you to consult the following resources:

Useful resources – Pets and housing

Administrative Housing Tribunal – Pets
- https://www.tal.gouv.qc.ca/fr/resumes-decisions-animaux-compagnie
Ville de Brossard – Animals
- Local rules: permits, nuisances, etc.
- https://brossard.ca/animaux/
Educaloi – Pets and housing: https: //educaloi.qc.ca/capsules/lanimal-et-le-logement/

Insalubrious or unkempt housing

Consult the online procedure

Support and guidance (external resource)

A number of external organizations can help tenants with the process.

For your information, the Coalition pour le droit au logement de l’agglomération de Longueuil offers a support service for local tenants.

This service may include :

information on possible remedies;
assistance with the process;
support in dealing with the owner.

This service is designed to assist tenants with their procedures and does not replace official appeals.

To find out more, visit: Insalubrity Brigade services

Help and information resources

Do you need help? Here’s a list of resources you can consult online.

Rights and obligations of the tenant and landlord

Housing Administrative Tribunal (TAL)

The TAL informs citizens of their rights and settles disputes between tenants and landlords.
514 873-2245 | https://www.tal.gouv.qc.ca/fr/

Office d’habitation de Longueuil (OHL)

Affordable housing and support for low- and moderate-income households.
450 670-2733 │ www.ohlongueuil.com

Comité logement Rive-Sud – Thematic kit: A well-informed tenant can defend his or her rights

Community organization that defends tenants’ rights, provides information and accompanies households. For information, leave a message on their voice mail (ext. 290) between 9:30 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Calls are not answered directly, but all messages are returned as soon as possible.
450 699-3060 ext. 290 https://www.comite-logement.org

Éducaloi – Tenants’ rights : Mini-guide