Housing: Two stories on one theme
The law has passed to allow landlords to ban lease transfer. The law was championed by housing minister France-Élaine Duranceau, chastised Thursday by the National Assembly ethics commissioner for favouring the interests of a friend and business associate in the real estate sector.
In the immortal words, what is wrong with this picture?
Nicholas 20:45 on 2023-11-30 Permalink
The law hasn’t passed yet. The section of the bill dealing with banning lease transfers, section 7 (article 7 en français) was the subject of amendments at committee, and Tuesday all those amendments failed. The committee, which previously passed some other amendments, still needs to report the amended bill to the full national assembly, and then the national assembly has to adopt it. There’s no way that doesn’t happen eventually, but the timeline would be tight to do it before the holidays, and they may need unanimous consent at this point, which they won’t get.
Kate 21:10 on 2023-11-30 Permalink
Thank you, Nicholas!
steph 23:18 on 2023-11-30 Permalink
As a tenant, PLEASE FORWARD A COPY OF YOUR LEASE TO NEW TENANTS!. pay it forward. Landlords are not always honest about the amount previous tenants paid. Rent increases from one tenant to the next follow the SAME rules as if it was the same tenant staying put. These type of rent increases CAN be contested at the TAL and your rent can be corrected despite it being a newly signed lease.
Kate 10:18 on 2023-12-01 Permalink
In the building where I live, as people leave, the owners have been doing some light renovations – things like a new kitchen counter and cabinets – but probably enough to justify a more than nominal hike between tenants. I imagine this kind of thing isn’t unusual and might account for some of the more abusive rent hikes around town.
steph 15:03 on 2023-12-01 Permalink
Nope. Unless they leave the apartment empty for a year, they can’t just change it willy nilly. Subdividing, enlargement or change of destination are the only ways landlords can get away with changing the rent to a new random amount.
Light, or heavy renovation costs all fall into the legal calculations. According to the calculation it works out to 3.8% of those renovation expenses can be pushed into the rent increase. 10,000$ of renovations works out 31.67$ of rent increase (monthly. but monthly forever). And that’s if the renovations are specific to your apartment. If it’s shared expenses (like the roof), it’s gets prorated to ALL the dwellings. https://www.tal.gouv.qc.ca/sites/default/files/CSAL_2023_A.pdf
You go to the TAL and they have to bring receipts if they want to include those renovations in the calculation.
I get it, landlords here in quebec have the short end of the stick. It takes over 25 years to recoup a renovation investment. A paint job only lasts 10 years, so they just don’t bother. The laws are leading some of our housing to fall into disrepair, but housing should have never been for-profit like the whiney landlords make it out to be. Hang the landlord, squat the world.
Kevin 17:22 on 2023-12-01 Permalink
As an artisanal landlord (I bought out my duplex last year) I understand the anger from both sides.
Don’t go stomping over my head and I’ll love you as a tenant. But also understand that it’s going to be 30 years of rent before I break even.
Tim 19:52 on 2023-12-01 Permalink
@Kevin, what do you consider to be your break even point? When you are mortgage free?
Kevin 16:56 on 2023-12-03 Permalink
Tim
I’ll likely be mortgage free in 24 years, and assuming it is consistently rented during that time, it’s around then that the rent paid will come close to the principal, the interest, taxes, maintenance, renovations, furniture and utilities.