Accommodation

Finding somewhere to live

It can be difficult to find a long-term housing solution quickly: it may be that you find yourself taking temporary accommodation whilst searching for the ideal property. Bear in mind the following housing descriptions used in Quebec:

Semi-furnished/semi-meublé

This usually means that basic appliances (stove and refrigerator) are supplied and included in the rent.

Heated and non-heated/chauffé et non chauffé

'Heated' means that heating costs are included in the rent; 'non-heated' means heating costs are payable separately. The number of rooms is indicated by a whole number (1, 2, 3 etc), whereas '½' refers to a bathroom. Using this classification, then, a three-bedroom apartment with a bathroom would be described as '3 ½'.

However, given the absence of any actual legislation concerning housing descriptions in advertising, it is always best to view the property personally before agreeing to part with any money.

Cost

Rent varies according to location. On average you can expect to pay between 500 – 900 $CAN per month for a two-bedroom apartment. Properties outside of the city centre are usually cheaper. The cost of buying a small family home is usually in the region of about 100,000 to 300,000 $CAN depending on location.

Lease agreements

The lease (bail) is a very important document and the chief formality involved when renting a property. Before signing a lease you should take the time to read through it carefully. Note that official lease agreements are usually in French unless specifically agreed otherwise. If you visit and express interest in a property, the owner may ask you to fill out a form in which you supply information which will allow him to check your track record, namely good conduct in previous rentals, your ability to pay the rent and so on. Such a document is known as an 'offer to lease' (offre de location). It often includes a clause by which the owner is granted a period of a few days to do some background checks before agreeing to accept you as a tenant. If the landlord agrees to let you rent the property, it is assumed that you will then sign the lease. For this reason it is important not to sign more than one 'offer to lease' simultaneously and to await the outcome of one such offer before getting involved in another. This avoids the risk of being tied up in more than one lease simultaneously.

Verbal agreements

If you make a verbal agreement with the landlord, you still have the right to demand a written confirmation. If the landlord prefers not to use the official form provided by the Regie du logement (housing board), he is still obliged to provide the tenant, within ten days of making the lease agreement, with a document detailing the following information :

name and address of the landlord
name of the tenant
the exact address of the property you are renting
any annotations required by Candian law