Affordable Housing Portal and Rent Rules

Summary#

This Quebec bill creates new tools to improve access to affordable housing. It sets up a single application portal for affordable and low‑rent homes, updates rules for how these homes are assigned and rented, and strengthens oversight and dispute resolution.

Key changes:

• Creates a public housing application portal with waitlists for affordable and low‑rent units, run by a government‑designated body.
• Requires some landlords (as defined by future rules) to list vacant units through the portal and offer them to the next eligible applicant.
• Lets the rental tribunal (Tribunal administratif du logement) set the rent for affordable units, even in new buildings, and strengthens tenants’ ability to challenge rent changes in low‑rent housing.
• Requires tenants in affordable units to report household income; if they earn above the limit, the housing agency can charge a compensation or end the lease after notice.
• Clarifies student‑housing leases, including proof of full‑time status, renewal, relocation for serious reasons, and how leases end if student status changes.
• Allows part of condo reserve funds to be invested long‑term (with safeguards) and requires a maintenance log, with possible exemptions by regulation.
• Expands the housing agency’s powers to run pilot projects and manage certain properties, and allows surplus government buildings to be transferred for housing, sometimes at no cost to non‑profits.

What it means for you#

• Renters seeking affordable or low‑rent housing

  • You apply through a single online or public portal. Your request goes on the proper waitlist based on your income and needs.
  • If you believe your application was mishandled, you can appeal to the rental tribunal within about a month.
  • If a landlord wrongly gives a listed unit to someone else, you can ask the tribunal to order the next equivalent vacant unit for you. In urgent cases, the tribunal can require immediate housing and make the landlord cover any rent difference.

• Tenants in affordable units

  • You must share basic information on your household and income when asked. Not doing so can lead to a tribunal order and, if ignored, lease cancellation.
  • Subletting is not allowed.
  • If your income rises above the set limit, the housing agency can charge a compensation after your lease renews. You can contest the amount or ask to reduce/stop it if your income later falls.
  • If you do not pay the compensation after notice, your lease can end. If your landlord does not act on this, the agency can bill the landlord for the unpaid amount.
  • You may give three months’ notice to end the lease if your income is above the limit; once the agency gets your notice, no compensation is charged after that point.

• Tenants in low‑rent (HLM) housing

  • The housing agency is automatically allowed to act on your behalf to have a rent change reviewed by the tribunal. Landlords must send rent‑change notices to the agency.

• Landlords

  • If you meet the conditions set by future regulations, you must use the portal to fill vacancies and follow the waitlist order.
  • If you skip the right applicant, the tribunal can order you to house them in the next equivalent vacancy and, in urgent cases, to place them right away and cover any rent difference.
  • For affordable units, tenants cannot sublet. You can ask the tribunal to cancel or adjust a lease if it was obtained through false statements.
  • You must send any lease‑change notice for low‑rent units to the housing agency.

• Students in student housing

  • You must provide proof of enrollment within three months of the lease start, and proof of full‑time status by set dates each year.
  • Schools or recognized owners may, for serious reasons, rehouse you at renewal into an equivalent nearby unit with the same rent.
  • If you stop studying full‑time, the school can end your lease with one month’s notice (you can contest the reason). You can also end the lease with short notice (one or two months, depending on the type of student housing).
  • If a building loses its recognized status, your lease ends a month later, but you must be offered a new lease at the prior rent minus any services no longer offered.

• Condo owners and boards

  • A portion of your reserve fund can be invested long‑term, but the capital must be guaranteed. Part of the fund must stay liquid and available soon.
  • You must keep a maintenance log and get a reserve‑fund study, though government rules may allow exemptions in some cases.

• Community housing groups and cities

  • Surplus government properties can be transferred for housing. Transfers can be free to co‑ops, non‑profits, or housing offices if used for social, affordable, or student housing.
  • Local housing offices can administer more types of buildings that received housing aid.

• Users of the rental tribunal

  • The tribunal can require a conciliation session. It can also limit procedures used abusively.
  • Some matters must now be handled within 45 days of filing.
  • Recusal (replacing a member who may be biased) has clearer rules, and another member can correct a decision if the original member is unavailable.

Expenses#

No publicly available information.

Proponents' View#

• A single, public application portal makes access clearer and fairer, reducing the need to apply in many places.
• Stronger assignment rules and rent‑setting for affordable units protect tenants from favoritism and sharp rent hikes, including in new buildings.
• Income checks and compensation for over‑income tenants keep scarce affordable units focused on low‑ and modest‑income households.
• Clear student‑housing rules reduce disputes and help schools manage limited rooms while protecting students’ rights.
• Letting condos invest part of reserves long‑term can improve funding for major repairs while keeping enough cash on hand.
• Pilot projects and the reuse of surplus public buildings can add homes faster, including through co‑ops and non‑profits.
• Tribunal tools to curb abusive tactics and require conciliation can speed up fair resolutions.

Opponents' View#

• Sharing personal and income data with a portal and landlords raises privacy concerns and risks of misuse.
• The compensation system and lease cancellation for non‑payment could push some families out if their income fluctuates or paperwork is late.
• Mandatory portal use may add paperwork and delays for landlords, discouraging some from offering affordable units.
• Barring sublets reduces flexibility for tenants facing short‑term changes in work or family.
• Allowing schools or recognized owners to rehouse students at renewal could disrupt students’ lives.
• Investing condo reserves long‑term, even with guarantees, could reduce liquidity when big repairs come due.
• Selling surplus public buildings “to any person” for housing may lead to private gains unless affordability is well enforced.