Rent Increase in Quebec 2026: Your Rights and How to Refuse

Every winter, hundreds of thousands of Quebec tenants receive a rent increase notice. Many accept it without knowing they have the right to refuse — without moving out. This guide explains your rights, the deadlines, and how to react, based on the Civil Code of Quebec.

In this guide: 1. The increase notice and its deadlines 2. You have the right to refuse (without moving) 3. How to refuse, step by step 4. How the TAL sets the fair rent 5. The exceptions (recent buildings, section F) FAQ

1. The increase notice and its deadlines

A landlord cannot raise the rent whenever they want. They must send you a written lease modification notice, respecting specific deadlines before the end of the lease (article 1942 C.C.Q.):

Lease of 12 months or more: between 3 and 6 months before the lease ends.
Lease under 12 months: between 1 and 2 months before the end.
Room: between 10 and 20 days before the end.

The notice must state the new rent (or the increase amount) and the effective date. A verbal notice or a simple text message that does not follow these rules is not valid.

2. You have the right to refuse — without moving

❌ The most common myth

"If I refuse the increase, I have to leave." This is false. In Quebec, you have the right to remain in the dwelling: your lease renews automatically, even if you refuse the increase.

When you receive the notice, you have 1 month to respond to the landlord (article 1945 C.C.Q.). You have three options:

Accept the increase.
Refuse while staying in the dwelling (the most common case).
Leave at the end of the lease (giving the required notice).

⚠️ If you do not respond within the month, the law considers that you accepted the increase. Silence means acceptance — so act quickly.

3. How to refuse, step by step

Check the notice is valid: deadline respected, amount and date stated. Our lease scanner can analyze your document.

Estimate the justified increase with the rent increase calculator (based on the TAL method) to see if the requested increase is reasonable.

Send your refusal in writing within one month of receiving the notice. Keep proof of sending (email, or registered mail).

Wait for the landlord's reaction. If they maintain the increase, it is up to them to apply to the TAL within one month (article 1947 C.C.Q.). If they do not, your lease renews at the old rent.

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4. How the TAL sets the fair rent

If the case reaches the Tribunal administratif du logement, the TAL does not rely on "market price", but on a calculation grid set by regulation. It considers the actual year-over-year change in several building expense items:

Municipal and school taxes
Insurance premiums
Energy costs (heating, common-area electricity)
Maintenance and service
Major repairs (with a return on invested capital)

Each January, the TAL publishes average increase percentages as a guideline, by heating type. These are not legal caps, but a reference point. Our calculator applies this method to your specific situation.

5. The exceptions: recent buildings and section F

There is an important exception. For a dwelling in a building 5 years old or less (or recently converted to residential use), the landlord may be exempt from the rent-fixing rules (article 1955 C.C.Q.).

But beware: this exemption is only valid if it is clearly stated in section F of your lease. If section F is empty, poorly filled, or missing, you keep your right to contest the increase. Many tenants are unaware of this — check your lease.

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Frequently asked questions

Do I have to accept a rent increase in Quebec?

No. You have the right to refuse a rent increase. Refusing does not end your lease: it renews under the same conditions, and it is up to the landlord to apply to the Tribunal administratif du logement (TAL) to fix the rent. The most common myth is that refusing an increase means having to move out — it does not.

How long do I have to refuse the increase?

You have 1 month from receiving the lease modification notice to tell the landlord you refuse (article 1945 of the Civil Code of Quebec). If you do not respond within this period, the law considers that you accepted the increase.

What if I refuse but the landlord does not go to the TAL?

If the landlord does not file an application with the TAL within one month of your refusal (article 1947 C.C.Q.), your lease automatically renews at the old rent. You have nothing else to do.

How does the TAL decide the fair amount?

The TAL applies a calculation grid set by regulation: changes in municipal and school taxes, insurance, energy and maintenance costs, plus a return on major repairs. Each January, the TAL publishes average increase percentages as a guideline.

My landlord says I must leave if I refuse. Is that true?

No, that is false. In Quebec, tenants have the right to remain in their dwelling. Refusing an increase gives the landlord no right to evict you. Such a threat may even amount to harassment.

Are there cases where I cannot contest the increase?

Yes: for a dwelling in a building 5 years old or less, the landlord may be exempt from the rent-fixing rules (article 1955 C.C.Q.), provided this was clearly stated in section F of your lease. If section F was not properly filled in, you may still be able to contest.

This article is provided for information purposes and does not constitute legal advice. The cited articles refer to the Civil Code of Quebec. For a complex situation, consult a housing committee, a legal clinic or a lawyer. aideTAL.ca is an assistance tool, not a law firm.