Moving day and rental registery: two subjects not to be overlooked this summer

I'm delighted to welcome you back a few days after July 1, a very busy time for all Quebec rental owners.

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As you know, this year's moving season in Quebec affected just under 10% of renters, which is much less than usual. Last year, for example, 15% of tenants moved, and on average, we're talking about one tenant in five, or 20% of tenants who move on July 1 of each year. This decrease is essentially due to a tightening and low vacancy rate in the rental market.

I think it's important to come back to this phenomenon, which affects the entire residential rental sector. Over the past few years, we've seen many examples of this. We're thinking in particular of population movements between regions, rising immigration thresholds leading to the arrival of newcomers, the aging of the population, longer life expectancy and certain seniors who become tenants again after selling their principal residence. And let's not forget that over the past 20 years, there has been a clear increase in the number of single-tenant households. More people are living alone, which means more housing is needed. Last but not least, young people are finding it harder to buy their own home, and are renting for longer. All these realities contribute to creating a cocktail that puts the rental market under pressure.

As for the July 1 results, many of you were on the lookout, as usual, to facilitate the arrival of your new tenants and ensure that the units were suitable for them. Of course, there are always unfortunate situations that you report to us, such as homes left in a very poor state, sometimes ransacked. These situations are all the more frustrating, as they cost you a lot of money in a context where the laws in Quebec are very difficult for you as a landlord. It can be very difficult to recover these sums of money, which necessarily increases the risks and costs involved in restoring these damaged homes. I think it's worth pointing out that cases of this type going before the Tribunal administratif du logement sometimes involve a wait of up to 2 years, with costs that are immense. That's why CORPIQ is very sensitive to this issue and continually reminds both the media and legislators that there is too little protection for landlord in such situations.

In the news over the past few weeks, you've seen the resurgence of the idea of a public rental registry, an idea that has been endorsed by some fifteen mayors from across Quebec. CORPIQ once again came to the defense of landlords, reminding us that transparency between landlords and tenants often exists, even if Section G on this subject is contested. 60% of landlords indicate the last rent paid on the lease they sign each year. Despite the fact that CORPIQ contests the very meaning of section G of the lease, we remind you that the creation of a public rent registry would have other consequences for you, particularly in relation to the market. We say this because it's been tried and it hasn't worked in Ontario, in other American legislations like Boston and others. What has been noticed is that owners have stopped renovating, because they were no longer motivated to build new units. It also encouraged real estate speculation by people who wanted to make a quick buck on buildings with excessively low rents. More evictions were obviously counted, as well as the increased presence of commodification of leases by tenants who took advantage of the situation. In any case, the register is back in the public debate, so you can count on CORPIQ to defend common sense, but above all to make sure that the laws don't restrict your ability to manage and maintain your rental stock.

CORPIQ will also be calling on you to write to your MPs about what's happening and how you're dealing with problematic situations as a rental owner. Bill 31 is a good example, where the government wants to correct certain problems between landlords and tenants, but which you may not entirely agree with. Of course, there's the issue of lease assignment, where the government wants to give you back your legitimate rights as landlords to manage your own rental stock. Recently, I was debating with a tenants' association, the RCLALQ, and I was pointing out that tenants were "merchandising", i.e. making money by reselling their lease in the context of a for-profit lease transfer. The RCLALQ's response was to say that they had no problem with tenants making money on a property that belongs to you. So you'll understand that we'll be reiterating these points in the hearings to be held this fall.

In the meantime, I invite you to show your solidarity, to support us, but above all to express yourself publicly by writing to your MP and telling him or her about your reality as a rental owner, the issues at stake and the expectations you have of the legislator. You can count on us once again in the coming months to represent the issues and challenges facing landlords across Quebec.