Province-wide guides

Down payment, mortgage, broker — basics for going from renter to owner.

Minimum down payment: Under $500,000: 5% minimum $500,000 to $1.5M: 5% on the first $500K, 10% on the rest Over $1.5M: 20% minimum < 20% down: mortgage default insurance is mandatory (CMHC/Sagen) Mortgage pre approval: Before you shop for a home Tells you how much you can borrow Locks the rate for 90 to 120 days Strengthens your offer to sellers Estimate your monthly payments by price, down pay...

Home and tenant insurance in Quebec: why you need it, what it covers, how much it costs and how to choose a policy as a renter or owner.

Home insurance covers: Personal belongings (furniture, electronics, clothes) Theft, fire, water damage Civil liability (a visitor's injury, damage at a neighbour's) Renter vs owner: Renter: your landlord insures the building; you insure your belongings ($15 30/month) Owner: you insure everything ($50 150/month depending on value) A mortgage almost always requires insurance In Quebec: Many landl...

Rent increase, eviction, repairs: your recourse when something goes wrong.

In Quebec, the law strongly protects tenants. A landlord cannot evict you because they found a better tenant, raise the rent freely, or ignore an urgent repair. Many of these rights are automatic: they apply even if the lease does not mention them, and even if you signed a paper saying otherwise. This guide complements . The lease guide covers before signing; here we cover after — when the land...

How to know if your rent or rent increase is reasonable, using the Tribunal administratif du logement's calculation tool.

Many newcomers pay a rent increase without knowing they could question it, or accept a starting rent that's too high without checking. In Quebec, rent isn't entirely free: the Tribunal administratif du logement (TAL) frames increases and each year publishes calculation parameters plus an online tool to estimate a fair increase. You don't have to accept an increase just because it's written on a...

University residence, shared apartment or private studio — how a student finds a place to live, without getting scammed.

As an international student or someone from another city, you have three main ways to find housing: The university residence — accommodation run by the institution, on or near campus The shared apartment — an apartment shared with other people, where each pays their share The private studio or apartment — a place of your own, rented directly from a landlord No option is better in itself: it dep...

Three provincial programs, seven eligibility rules, a points-based wait-list: how to apply correctly.

Social housing in Quebec is overseen by the Société d'habitation du Québec (SHQ) and managed locally by municipal housing offices. In Montreal, it's the OMHM (Office municipal d'habitation de Montréal); each major city has its equivalent (OMH of Quebec City, OMH of Gatineau, etc.). When you apply for social housing, your file is considered for three distinct programs: HLM (Habitation à loyer mo...

Average rents, vacancy rates and city profiles: SCHL figures and practical benchmarks for choosing where to settle in Quebec.

Every fall, the surveys rents and available apartments in every Quebec centre. It is the most reliable reference for comparing cities. The October 2025 survey puts the average two bedroom at $1,460 in Gatineau, $1,346 in Montréal, $1,277 in Québec City, $1,062 in Sherbrooke, $1,045 in Drummondville, $1,016 in Trois Rivières and $985 in Saguenay. The chart below shows the full picture. To compar...

Signing a lease in Quebec: the standard TAL lease, your rights, what a landlord cannot ask, and how subletting and lease assignment work.

In Quebec, all residential leases must use the standard form of the Tribunal administratif du logement (TAL). It's required by law. Security deposits are PROHIBITED in Quebec. The landlord can only ask for: The first month's rent at signing No post dated cheques may be required for subsequent months The landlord can ask for: Full name, previous address, phone, employer Credit check (with your w...

Renting a room instead of a whole apartment: where to look, what changes legally, and how to avoid scams.

On arrival, renting a whole apartment isn't always realistic: without credit history, without confirmed work, or on a small budget, it's hard. Renting a room — in a shared home, with a private host, or in a residence — is often the most accessible entry point. It's cheaper, more flexible, and buys you time to learn the neighbourhoods before committing to a one year lease. But the rules aren't e...