Lease renewal in Québec: key deadlines

Lease renewal in Quebec follows strict deadlines: for a lease of 12 months or more, the landlord must send a notice of changes between 3 and 6 months before the lease ends, and the tenant has one month to respond. Knowing these dates protects you from rent increases or conditions you could have challenged.

Every year, thousands of Montreal tenants receive a renewal notice without knowing exactly what they can accept, refuse or negotiate. This guide walks through the essential rules of lease renewal in Quebec, the deadlines to watch and the habits that keep you in control — whether you rent or own a rental unit.

Lease renewal deadlines in Quebec

The Civil Code of Québec sets out the notice a landlord must send when they want to change the lease at renewal — for example, to raise the rent or modify a condition. For a lease of 12 months or more, the notice must be sent between 3 and 6 months before the lease ends. For shorter leases, the window is tighter: between 1 and 2 months before the end date.

Once the tenant receives the notice, they have one month to respond. They have three options: accept the new conditions, refuse the change while staying in the unit, or notify the landlord that they will move out at the end of the lease. One critical detail: a tenant who does not respond within the month is deemed to have accepted the renewal on the proposed terms.

If the tenant refuses the change but wants to stay, the landlord can apply to the Administrative Housing Tribunal (TAL) to have the rent set or the dispute settled. The detailed rules and current forms are published on the TAL website and on Québec.ca.

A real-world Montreal example

Consider Marie, who rents a two-bedroom condo in the Plateau-Mont-Royal. Her 12-month lease ends on June 30, and her landlord wants to raise the rent from $1,650 to $1,740 per month. For the notice to be valid, it must reach her between January 1 and March 31.

Marie receives the notice on February 15. She has until March 15 to respond in writing. She finds the increase too steep: she refuses the change but states she wants to stay. The landlord can then apply to the TAL, which will consider factors such as the building's expenses and any major work done when setting the rent. In the meantime, Marie keeps her home and her lease renews.

Two habits made the difference here: she noted the date she received the notice, and she answered in writing within the month — even though her answer was a refusal.

How to respond to a renewal notice

Your response should be clear and provable. A few good practices:

Read the notice as soon as it arrives and mark the response deadline in your calendar. Reply in writing — an email with a read receipt, a registered letter or hand delivery against a signed receipt — and keep a copy of the notice, your response and the proof of delivery in one folder.

If you accept, the lease renews on the new terms. If you refuse while staying, say so explicitly. If you are leaving, state that you are not renewing. A phone call can help clarify the other party's position, but it does not replace a written answer when one is required.

Special cases worth checking

Some situations change the usual rules. New buildings or units recently converted to condos may be subject to specific rent-setting rules, including the landlord's obligation to state the lowest rent paid in the previous 12 months. Open-ended leases and units covered by specific programs also follow their own parameters.

Before answering, check the exact length of your lease, its end date and any special conditions you signed. When in doubt, the TAL offers an information service and publishes worked examples. For complex situations — repossession, eviction, major work — speaking with a professional or a tenants' rights organization is a wise step.

For landlords: planning a smooth renewal

On the owner's side, renewal planning starts months ahead. Set the new rent using comparable units in the neighbourhood — our article on setting the right rent for your Montreal condo covers the method — and on the building's actual expenses. A clear notice, sent within the proper window and backed by a reasonable justification, reduces refusals and TAL applications.

Keep a record of every notice sent and every response received. A tenant who does not reply within the month is deemed to have accepted, but it is up to the landlord to prove the notice was actually received.

Rent increases: what is reasonable

There is no legally fixed maximum percentage for an increase at renewal, but the TAL publishes yearly calculation examples based on the building's actual expenses: taxes, insurance, maintenance, major work. An increase that reflects those costs is generally defensible; an arbitrary hike can be challenged.

For tenants, the reflex is to ask the landlord how the increase was calculated. For landlords, keeping invoices for the year's work and expenses makes it possible to justify the adjustment if the file ends up at the TAL. In both cases, an open conversation before the notice is sent avoids many conflicts: plenty of tenants accept an explained increase they would have refused had it arrived with no context.

Lease assignment and subletting: alternatives to leaving

If you need to leave before the lease ends, renewal isn't your only option. A lease assignment transfers your lease to another person, with the landlord's consent — which cannot be refused without a serious reason. Subletting lets you hand over the unit temporarily while remaining responsible for the lease. In both cases, notify the landlord in writing and respect the timelines in the Civil Code. These mechanisms are especially useful in Montreal, where rental demand makes assignments relatively easy to complete. For the exact procedures, check the TAL website.

FAQ

What happens if the landlord sends the notice late?

A notice sent outside the required window is generally invalid: the lease renews on the same terms. The landlord will have to wait until the next renewal to propose changes.

Can I refuse a rent increase and stay in my apartment?

Yes. You can refuse the change and remain in your home. The landlord must then apply to the TAL to have the rent set if they want to pursue the increase.

How do I prove I responded on time?

Use a method that leaves a trail: registered mail, an email with a read receipt, or hand delivery against a signed receipt. Keep a copy of your response and the proof of sending.

Is renewal automatic if nobody does anything?

If the landlord sends no notice, the lease renews automatically on the same terms, for the same duration (or becomes open-ended in some cases, depending on the original lease).

Where can I find the official, up-to-date rules?

The Administrative Housing Tribunal's website and Québec.ca publish the deadlines, forms and calculation examples that apply. Check them before responding to any notice.

Received a notice and unsure how to respond, or own a rental unit and want renewals handled by a team that never misses a deadline? Contact Gestion Condo to talk about your situation.

General information: rules and circumstances may vary. Check official sources or consult a professional about your situation.