Tenant loan program to help pay rent welcomed by CORPIQ

The program provides a solution for many tenants facing rent payment difficulties due to the various impacts of the pandemic, including employment income losses. Combined with the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) of $2,000 per month—which represents 2.5 times the average rent in Quebec (compared with 1.5 times in Ontario)—Quebec tenants now benefit from the strongest protection in the country.

CORPIQ also welcomes the fact that the funds will be paid directly to landlords, ensuring that the money is used to cover rent obligations.

“Tenants experiencing financial hardship, toward whom landlords have shown understanding and patience, will now be able to avoid accumulating rent debt and the consequences that come with it. We congratulate the Quebec government and Housing Minister Andrée Laforest for this measure, which adequately addresses several of the requests we submitted,” said Hans Brouillette, CORPIQ's Director of Public Affairs.

CORPIQ expects the implementation of this new program to quickly distinguish good-faith tenants from those acting in bad faith.

“Provided that public health risks remain under control, the government must move quickly to restart the courts so that the justice system can resume its normal course. We have many tenants who are openly taking advantage of the situation and who already owed rent before April,” explained Mr. Brouillette.

According to a CORPIQ survey conducted among 2,500 landlords representing more than 50,000 rental units across Quebec, 14% of tenants had not paid their rent as of April 6.

Temporary housing assistance program meets expectations

CORPIQ also welcomed the announcement of a temporary housing assistance program providing up to $2,000 per month for households that need to secure temporary accommodations because their future residence has not yet been completed or renovated. An additional $1,000 will be available for storage costs.

“This measure will reassure landlords who, in one case out of two, will be welcoming one or more new tenants in the coming months. If the current tenant does not leave at the end of the lease, it can create significant challenges. Some landlords also have units under construction or renovation. With construction activity halted for more than a month, there is no guarantee these units will be ready on time,” continued the CORPIQ spokesperson.

This assistance will allow tenants to vacate their current unit and secure appropriate temporary accommodations during the transition period.

According to the same CORPIQ survey, 10% of landlords were expecting at least one new tenant in May, 8% in June, and 31% in July.

CORPIQ will carefully review the program details once the application forms become available through the Société d'habitation du Québec.