CORPIQ relieved by the reopening of the Régie, but calls on the government to compensate

The resumption of hearings at the Régie du logement as of June 1 comes as a relief to the thousands of property owners who have been waiting for months to resolve cases involving unpaid rent, repossession, access to dwellings, and tenant behaviour issues.

According to data collected through CORPIQ surveys conducted in April and May, between 9% and 10% of property owners are awaiting one or more hearings before the Régie du logement for rent arrears cases.

“Non-essential businesses have already resumed their activities. It was more than urgent for the justice system to restart. However, that does not mean landlords will recover the rent they have lost, and those losses now exceed $100 million,” explained Hans Brouillette, CORPIQ's Director of Public Affairs. “In Montreal, 15% of May rents remain unpaid.”

Evictions postponed until July: unacceptable without compensation

CORPIQ also believes it would be unacceptable for the government to continue forcing property owners—70% of whom own only a duplex or triplex—to provide housing free of charge to tenants for several more months. The organization is therefore calling on Housing Minister Andrée Laforest to reassure property owners by announcing a compensation program.

The postponement until July 6 for the enforcement of eviction orders issued before March 1, and until July 20 for those issued after March 1, means that landlords will continue to accumulate losses. Nearly half (48%) fear difficulties in meeting their mortgage payments, while 43% have personally experienced a loss of income from sources other than rental revenue.

“If the Quebec government has even one valid reason for continuing to suspend evictions, it should explain it now,” said CORPIQ spokesperson Hans Brouillette. “If that reason is related to COVID-19, then it becomes a public health issue and a collective responsibility. In that case, the government must compensate the property owners it is forcing to continue housing people free of charge.”

“The government is not asking anyone in the healthcare or food sectors to provide essential services without being paid. Why should property owners be treated differently and personally bear a heavier burden because of this pandemic?”

Between 3% and 4% of property owners currently hold at least one court order authorizing the eviction of a tenant, but they remain unable to enforce it because a ministerial order in effect since March 17 prohibits them from doing so.

“We have property owners who are desperate. Some have been waiting six months just to stop the accumulation of their losses, knowing full well that the rent owed to them will never be recovered,” Mr. Brouillette added.

CORPIQ is also concerned about another issue: moving season begins on June 1, and the organization expects that some tenants may refuse to vacate their units at the end of their leases, preventing new tenants from moving in.

“It is good-faith tenants who will end up staying in hotels while the unlawful occupant of their future home faces no consequences until the end of July. That is simply not fair,” concluded Mr. Brouillette.