CORPIQ firmly condemns abusive practices toward tenants

These practices run counter to the values and best practices we promote among our members, and we will not condone them from anyone, member or not.

A consistent position

We did not wait for this report to speak out. For several years now, we have been denouncing unethical or illegal practices, such as illegal evictions and renovictions:

• In May 2021, we stated in La Presse that we wanted to reduce the number of evictions, and called for landlords who evict tenants under false pretences, without carrying out the announced work, to be sanctioned.
• In July 2022, we stated that we have never defended, and never will defend, investor-landlords who carry out illegal evictions, and said we were available to work with public decision-makers on solutions to put an end to such illegal practices.
• In June 2023, when Bill 31 was introduced, we considered it necessary to reduce illegal evictions related to major renovations.
• In September 2023, during the parliamentary committee study of Bill 31, we reiterated that we have always denounced illegal evictions and repossessions, while proposing possible solutions.
• In February 2024, we welcomed the adoption of Bill 31, which imposes a more rigorous process before any eviction for renovation.
• In May 2024, we publicly reaffirmed that we do not defend renovictors who break the rules, and that we denounce those who mistreat tenants, regardless of their age.

While the tenants who fall victim to these practices are the first to suffer the consequences, landlords who act in good faith and have maintained their buildings for years, even decades, are also harmed.

Their reputation is unfairly tarnished by this behaviour, which undermines the trust between tenants and landlords on which Quebec’s entire rental market depends. We wish to point out that the practices denounced are not representative of the thousands of rental property owners who comply with regulations, have a sense of ethics and morality, and respect their tenants.

Tenants: the importance of knowing everyone’s rights and obligations

Quebec regulations set out rights and obligations for each party. It is important to know them in order to make informed decisions and to assert one’s rights in the event of abuse.

A tenant can refuse a rent increase. The tenant then keeps their dwelling, and it is up to the landlord to apply to the Tribunal administratif du logement (TAL) to have the rent set. No one should sign a document under pressure or without having understood it. An increase accompanied by a promised “refund” should also be checked before signing.

If you are experiencing a situation you consider abusive, resources are available:

• Housing committees and tenants’ associations in your region offer free information and support.
• The Tribunal administratif du logement provides information on your rights and receives applications.
• CORPIQ: if you witness a situation that deserves our attention, write to us. We want to know.

What CORPIQ is doing

Condemning is not enough. These abuses thrive when tenants are unaware of their rights and when people learn from the wrong sources. Information is therefore at the heart of our action.

We already promote best practices among our members through our guides, our webinars and the advice we provide to them every day, and we reiterate them in each of our public statements. In this regard, we remind everyone that our “Your rights and obligations” fact sheets on lease renewal, repossession of a dwelling and maintenance and repair work are available to all.

To decision-makers, we propose a stronger information campaign on everyone’s rights and obligations, so that this type of abuse can no longer rely on some tenants’ lack of awareness of their rights. The practices denounced are the work of a minority: responses must target those who abuse the system, rather than a one-size-fits-all solution that would penalize the thousands of law-abiding landlords.

These solutions must be developed together with all stakeholders: tenants, landlords, municipalities, community organizations and government. It is in this spirit that we will ask to take part in the government’s discussions on the rental sector, as well as in the homelessness summit announced by the new government, to present our prevention proposals, including a point of contact that landlords could alert when a tenant is in a vulnerable situation.