Un quartier résidentiel typique de Longueuil.
1. Three boroughs, three vibes
Longueuil has three boroughs with distinct characters:
- Vieux-Longueuil — historic centre, densely populated, near the metro
- Saint-Hubert — more suburban and residential, home to the regional airport
- Greenfield Park — quieter, predominantly English-speaking
2. What it costs
Budget roughly $1,100 to $1,400 per month for a 4½.
The Vieux-Longueuil, near the metro, is the priciest. Saint-Hubert and Greenfield Park are cheaper. Always check whether electricity, heating and hot water are included.
3. Compare boroughs at a glance
Here are Longueuil's three boroughs with their typical rent, metro access and target audience.
To enroll a child in public English school, you need a certificate of eligibility for English-language instruction, issued only if one parent did their elementary schooling in Canada in English. Otherwise, public school is in French. Greenfield Park hosts several English public schools of the Riverside School Board.
| Borough | Rent 4½ | Longueuil metro | Vibe | Target audience |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vieux-Longueuil | ~$1,250-1,450 | Walking / 5 min bus | Urban, historic | Montreal commuters |
| Saint-Hubert | ~$1,050-1,250 | 15-25 min bus | Suburban, residential | Families, tight budget |
| Greenfield Park | ~$1,100-1,300 | 15-20 min bus | Quiet, anglophone | Anglophone families |
4. Where to look
The most-used sites are Kijiji, Marketplace by Facebook, RentBoard, Logis Québec, and local Facebook groups like Logement Longueuil.
Beware of listings asking for a deposit before a visit — that's a common scam, sometimes with stolen photos. Always visit in person. If the listing looks too good for the price, do a reverse image search to verify the photos don't come from another listing.
5. The standard Quebec lease
In Quebec, all leases use the official form from the Tribunal administratif du logement.
This form is mandatory — a hand-written lease doesn't have the same protection. The standard period runs from July 1 to June 30.
The landlord cannot demand more than the first month's rent at signing. Security deposits, required post-dated cheques and last-month prepayment are illegal.
6. Section G of the lease: your best protection
Section G of the lease form requires the landlord to disclose the lowest rent paid in the 12 previous months.
If the box is not filled in, or if the landlord discloses an amount lower than what you're being asked, you have two months after signing to file with the Tribunal administratif du logement to set a fair rent.
It's one of the most powerful tools in Quebec law to limit abusive rent jumps. Always ask to see this section before signing.
7. Refusing a rent increase
If your landlord sends a lease modification notice — usually 3 to 6 months before term end — you have one month to respond in writing. Three choices:
- Accept the increase
- Refuse and stay — the landlord must file for rent setting with the Tribunal
- Refuse and leave
If you don't respond within the month, you are deemed to have accepted. Silence equals acceptance.
8. Essential utilities
For electricity, Hydro-Québec is the sole provider — open your account online before move-in day, or you risk arriving without power. Natural gas, if present, is provided by Énergir. Internet is offered by Vidéotron, Bell, Cogeco or Oxio.
9. Frequently asked questions
The most-asked questions: amount at signing, scams, early exit and requested documents.
How much do I pay at lease signing?
Under Quebec law, the landlord can only demand the first month's rent at signing — nothing more.
- Security deposits — forbidden
- Last-month prepaid — forbidden
- Required post-dated cheques — forbidden
The landlord can request post-dated cheques on a voluntary basis; you can refuse. A demand for 2 months at signing or a deposit is a red flag — refuse and report to the TAL.
How can I leave my unit before the lease ends?
Quebec law gives you one clean exit: the lease assignment.
You find a new tenant; the landlord can only refuse for a serious reason and must do so within 15 days of your written notice. Once accepted, you are released from all obligations. No legal lease-break fees.
Three legal exceptions allow termination without assignment: domestic violence, admission to long-term care, or assignment of a low-rent housing unit.
What documents can a landlord legally request?
The landlord can legally ask for:
- Name, contact info, current address
- References — current and past landlord, employer
- Consent to a credit check
- Proof of income — pay stubs, work contract, bank statement
They cannot demand:
- Social insurance number (NAS)
- Immigration status beyond the right to live in Canada
- Bank account number, copy of the driver's license
Refusing to provide protected info cannot legally be used to refuse you.
How to avoid housing scams in Longueuil?
Three rules:
- Pay nothing before the in-person visit — no Interac transfer, no cash, no sight-unseen cheque
- Reverse image search the photos to verify they aren't stolen
- Verify the landlord in the property roll of the City of Longueuil — it lists every owner of every parcel publicly and for free
If the name on the lease doesn't match the registered owner, ask why before signing.
10. See also
To go further on settling in Longueuil:
- Read signing a lease in Quebec to decode every clause of the official form before signing.
- Consult public transit in Longueuil (RTL and metro) to target a sector near the yellow line.
- Prepare your move with first steps in Longueuil for collection, water and 311 registration.
Author's Note: If you work in Montreal but want to pay less, look at Saint-Hubert. The RTL has several fast lines to the Longueuil-Université-de-Sherbrooke metro, and from there, four minutes downtown. Before signing, ask to see Section G of the lease — it's the most powerful tool to avoid an abusive rent jump.
