Quebec Maintenance & Habitability Obligations
A guide to landlord responsibilities in Quebec, covering habitability standards, urgent repairs, heating rules, and tenant recourse through the TAL.
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In Quebec, a landlord's primary legal obligation under the Civil Code is to deliver the leased property in good condition, and maintain it in a state fit for habitation throughout the duration of the lease.
The Right to Peaceful Enjoyment
The Civil Code of Québec (Article 1854) requires landlords to ensure the tenant's "peaceful enjoyment" of the premises. This broad obligation extends well beyond just fixing broken pipes—it means the landlord must ensure the property is free from excessive, abnormal disturbances (like prolonged construction noise, harassment, or severe mold that threatens health).
Landlord vs. Tenant Responsibilities
Landlord's Duties (Major Repairs and Habitability)
- Structural repairs (roof, foundation, exterior walls).
- Maintaining vital systems (plumbing, electrical, heating).
- Fixing major appliances provided with the lease (stoves, refrigerators).
- Exterminating significant pest infestations (e.g., bed bugs, cockroaches, rats).
- Remedying unsafe or unsanitary conditions.
Tenant's Duties (Minor Maintenance)
The tenant is responsible for minor maintenance work and cleanings that originate from normal daily use, such as:
- Changing light bulbs.
- Keeping the unit clean and sanitary.
- Minor repairs of damage caused by the tenant's negligence or their guests.
Rent Withholding and "Repair and Deduct"
In Quebec, it is strictly forbidden for a tenant to simply "withhold rent" because the landlord has not made repairs. A tenant who withholds rent risks having their lease terminated by the Tribunal administratif du logement (TAL).
However, if a repair is urgent and necessary (e.g., a burst pipe flooding the apartment or a broken furnace in midwinter), and the landlord cannot be reached or fails to act quickly, the tenant may legally arrange for the repair themselves and deduct the cost from their rent. The tenant must act reasonably to minimize costs and retains the receipts.
For non-urgent repairs that a landlord refuses to perform, the tenant must apply to the TAL to obtain an order forcing the landlord to execute the work, or authorizing the tenant to do it and deduct it from the rent.
The 21°C Heating Rule
In Quebec's harsh winters, adequate heating is a fundamental habitability requirement. Unless the lease specifically states the tenant is solely responsible for heating, the landlord must ensure the dwelling can maintain a minimum temperature of 21°C (70°F).
While there are no specific dates in law dictating exactly when the heat must be turned on, landlords generally provide heat from mid-to-late September until mid-to-late May, depending on outside temperatures.
If heating is included in the rent, the landlord cannot arbitrarily turn off the systems during cold snaps, nor set the building-wide thermostat so low that individual units fall below 21°C.
Unsanitary Dwellings
It is against the law for a landlord to offer for rent, or to continue to rent, a dwelling that is "unfit for habitation." A dwelling is unfit if its condition seriously compromises the health or safety of its occupants.
Examples include:
- Severe, toxic mold infestations.
- Lack of running water or electricity for extended periods (due to landlord negligence, not municipal outages).
- Structural failures risking collapse.
If a dwelling is declared unfit, a tenant may abandon it without penalty, provided they notify the landlord. The tenant will not have to pay rent for the period the dwelling is unfit.
Right of Access (Landlord Entry)
To perform necessary maintenance, a landlord has the right to enter the unit.
- For Non-Urgent Repairs: The landlord must give a 24-hour verbal or written notice. The work must be done between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.
- For Urgent Repairs: The landlord may enter at any time, without prior notice, to address an immediate emergency (fire, major flooding).
in quebec
The tenant notifies the landlord in writing of the maintenance issue requiring attention.
The landlord evaluates the repair, scheduling work during permitted hours (7AM–7PM) with 24 hours’ notice for non-urgent repairs.
Major repairs (structural, plumbing, heating, appliances) are the landlord’s responsibility. Minor maintenance falls to the tenant.
The tenant files a complaint with the TAL requesting an order forcing the landlord to execute the work, or authorizing the tenant to do it and deduct costs from rent.
If the repair is urgent and the landlord is unreachable, the tenant may arrange the repair themselves, deduct the cost from rent, and retain all receipts.
How Landager Helps
Tracking maintenance timelines, repair requests, and entry notices in a province with strict 24-hour notice requirements demands reliable systems. Landager's maintenance portal automatically logs all repair requests with timestamps, schedules follow-up reminders for outstanding issues, and generates compliant 24-hour notice templates for landlord entry. For multi-unit buildings, the platform tracks unit-by-unit heating system performance during winter months to ensure compliance with the 21°C minimum temperature obligation.
Back to Quebec Landlord-Tenant Laws Overview.
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