Only a few days to go before the July 1st move: some recommendations from CORPIQ

Montreal, June 27, 2023 - The traditional Quebec moving season is just a few days away. Although the housing market is under pressure, slightly less than 10% of tenants will still be changing address over the next few weeks. Moving day for tenants usually goes smoothly, but here are some of the situations that landlords dread, and that can make the first of July more difficult. As the Corporation des propriétaires immobiliers du Québec (CORPIQ) has pointed out on several occasions, being a landlord involves many challenges, and certain situations can unfortunately complicate an otherwise smooth day. We invite residential landlords to collaborate with municipal teams in situations requiring emergency assistance. Collaboration and communication are key to the success of this period.

1. The new tenant arrives before the old one leaves

It's not uncommon for the outgoing tenant's move to not be completed, often for unforeseeable reasons, before the new occupant arrives. Indeed, it is common practice for July 1st moves for the outgoing tenant to leave in the morning of July 1st, rather than by midnight on June 30th at the latest, leaving him or her without accommodation overnight. In this case, the outgoing tenant should give the new tenant access to the unit whenever possible. It is suggested that one or, if possible, several rooms be vacated to allow the new tenant to deposit his or her belongings. Everyone is expected to show courtesy and good citizenship in the circumstances.

 

2. The current tenant doesn't want to leave

A tenant who has given notice of non-renewal of his or her lease must leave the property when the lease expires, as another tenant often has to move in. This is a delicate situation that often requires the intervention of municipal authorities to help residents in such a situation. As a rental owner, it's important to establish respectful communication and call on CORPIQ for support when needed. An emergency hearing by the Tribunal administratif du logement (TAL) is sometimes necessary.

 

3. The dwelling is left in poor condition

Unfortunately, this happens all too often in the July 1st context. Obviously, this specifically penalizes the new tenant, who is entitled to a dwelling in good condition. CORPIQ recommends that rental landlords carry out a full inspection of the dwelling before the new tenant arrives, in order to assess the general condition of the dwelling and plan for its restoration. In fact, we recommend that you always carry out an inventory of fixtures visit on the arrival and departure of tenants, and that you take pictures of the dwelling, so that you can always identify any damage, if applicable. Remember that the outgoing tenant is responsible for any damage caused by the movers he or she has hired, and that the landlord has no direct recourse against them, but rather against the tenant. In this regard, please contact our emergency address info@corpiq.com.

 

4. The former tenant left behind several items of property

It's important to remember that the landlord is not required to keep valueless abandoned possessions. If they have some value, it's best to draw up an inventory with a neutral witness and notify the tenant by registered mail to his new address. If there is no means of contacting the tenant, the landlord should normally place a notice in the local newspaper, under the heading "Public Notices", calling for the tenant to come and collect his or her belongings. If the goods are claimed within 90 days, the former tenant will have to pay the storage fees for them. After this period, the owner is free to dispose of or sell the goods.

 

5. The new tenant is conspicuous by his absence

If the landlord hasn't heard from the new tenants by moving day, he should try to contact them. If the first month's rent has been paid and there's no sign of life, the landlord will have to wait. Since the tenant has paid the rent, he or she is not yet in default. Then, if the tenant is evicted, there will be specific procedures for making the unit available to another tenant. There may also be a mutual agreement to terminate the lease and put the unit up for rent more quickly, while avoiding legal proceedings.

 

 6. On-site presence is essential for everyone

The presence of the rental owner (or an agent, such as a manager or janitor) on the premises when moving out is more than desirable, so that he or she can see the condition of the premises when a tenant takes possession. It also helps to identify any corrections that need to be made to the property by establishing positive communication with the new tenant, thus initiating a good relationship between the two parties.

 

7. New tenant does not subscribe to Hydro-Québec

Does the lease clearly state that the tenant is responsible for electricity costs? If so, the tenant is obliged to subscribe to Hydro-Québec's electricity service. Since 2018, landlords have been able to use Hydro-Québec's "Manage my rental units" service, which allows landlords to choose in advance whether to interrupt or maintain electricity when the dwelling is without a subscriber. This is an issue that must be communicated to the new tenant in the days preceding a move. Remember that 75% of tenants in Quebec pay for heating and electricity.

 

8. Did you say "no pets"?

Landlords have the right to refuse animals, except in the case of a service dog to compensate for a handicap. If, despite the ban, a tenant shows up on moving day with a pet, the landlord must act quickly to notify the tenants that they have signed a lease that does not allow pets, and that there will be no exceptions or tolerance, also out of respect for other tenants who have chosen a pet-free location.  If the new tenants do not cooperate, the landlord will have to notify them in writing (note that there is a model notice for non-compliance with lease clauses on the CORPIQ website.) In the absence of cooperation, we invite you to contact a CORPIQ advisor.

In conclusion, CORPIQ invites Quebec's 300,000 rental landlords to continue their usual cooperation with tenants during this moving period. A survey of 400 tenants conducted by L'Observateur revealed that 87% had good or even very good relations with their landlords. And this relationship is based on a commitment on everyone's part to respect the conditions of the rental lease and use best practices to establish healthy communication between the parties. More than 1.5 million Quebec households live in rental accommodation, and Quebec is the province with the most renters in Canada.

 

About CORPIQ

A non-profit organization bringing together 30,000 owners and managers who own nearly 600,000 rental units and condos, CORPIQ is the largest association to offer services to housing owners and to defend their interests, for over 40 years. It serves all regions from four offices with a total of 60 employees. Quebec landlords provide housing for 1.5 million tenant households, and seven out of ten of them own a duplex or triplex.

Information and interview requests :

Marc-André Plante

Director, Public Affairs and Government Relations - Corporation des propriétaires immobiliers du Québec

Cell: 514-249-1691

E-mail: maplante@corpiq.com