Quebec Landlord Required Disclosures

Unlike many U.S. states that require a laundry list of environmental and structural disclosures, Quebec consolidates its required disclosures directly within the mandatory provincial lease form. The most critical disclosure rule in Quebec relates to rent transparency.

The Mandatory Lease Form

In Quebec, all residential lease agreements must be documented using the official form published by the Tribunal administratif du logement (TAL). Because the form itself is standardized, it automatically prompts landlords to make the necessary disclosures.

Section G: Disclosure of the Lowest Rent

The most strictly enforced disclosure in Quebec is found in Section G of the mandatory lease form ("Notice to a new lessee or sublessee").

When signing a lease with a new tenant, the landlord must disclose the lowest rent paid for the dwelling during the 12 months preceding the beginning of the lease.

Why it matters: Quebec law allows new tenants to apply to the TAL to have their rent fixed (lowered) if they discover that their rent is significantly higher than what the previous tenant paid without justification. The tenant has 10 days after signing the lease to apply to the TAL if they feel the rent bump is abusive. If the landlord left Section G blank, the tenant has two months from the start of the lease to apply. If the landlord lied in Section G, the tenant has two months from the discovery of the lie to apply.

Exemptions to Section G: A landlord is not required to disclose previous rent if the dwelling is located in a building constructed five years ago or less, or if the building's use was changed to residential five years ago or less (Section F of the lease handles these exemptions).

Co-ownership and Property Rules (By-laws)

If the rental unit is a condominium (divided co-ownership), the landlord holds a crucial disclosure obligation. Before the lease is signed, the landlord must give the tenant a copy of the by-laws of the immovable (the condo rules). If the landlord fails to provide these, the tenant is not bound by them, which can put the landlord at risk of fines from the condo syndicate.

Habitability and Condition Disclosures

While not formally named "disclosures" in the way lead-paint warnings are, the Civil Code requires landlords to deliver the property in good repair and in clean, habitable condition.

• Pests and Mold: Landlords must disclose and treat any known infestations (such as bed bugs) or mold issues before a tenant moves in. Leasing a dwelling that is unfit for habitation is illegal.
• Notices of Eviction or Major Work: If the landlord plans major renovations or intends to change the building's destination, they cannot rent the unit in bad faith without disclosing these impending projects.

Language of the Lease

In the province of Quebec, the Charter of the French Language guarantees that consumers have the right to be served in French. Consequently, the lease and all related disclosures must be drawn up in French.

However, the landlord and tenant can expressly agree to use a different language, such as English. The TAL provides the official lease form in both French and English. If an English lease is used, there is typically a clause confirming it is the express wish of both parties to draft the agreement in English.

Best Practices for Section G Compliance

Accurately completing Section G is one of the most important steps a Quebec landlord can take to avoid costly disputes with new tenants. Follow these best practices:

1. Always complete Section G — Never leave it blank. An empty Section G extends the tenant's challenge window from 10 days to two full months, dramatically increasing your risk exposure.
2. Verify the lowest rent — The disclosure must reflect the actual lowest rent paid in the preceding 12 months, including any discounts or reduced rates granted to the previous tenant.
3. Document your justification — If the new rent is significantly higher than the previous rent, prepare documentation justifying the increase (e.g., renovation receipts, tax increases, insurance premium changes) before the lease is signed.
4. Keep records for three years — Maintain copies of all previous leases and rent receipts to defend against future Section G challenges.

How Landager Helps

Landager automatically tracks the rent history for every unit in your portfolio, ensuring you always have the accurate lowest-rent figure ready when completing Section G of the mandatory TAL lease form. The platform also alerts you when a new tenant's challenge window is approaching and stores all supporting documentation for rent justifications in a centralized digital vault.

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