Are you looking for affordable housing? Low-rent housing (also called HLM or subsidized housing) may be the solution for you, your roommate or your family. But who is eligible for this kind of housing and who can become a tenant?
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This article in short:
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Who can live in low-rent housing unit?
Low-rent housing is available to people living alone, with roommates or with their families. You must respect certain conditions and have a low income to qualify.
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Since February 2026, living with a roommate in low-rent unit is allowed, even in units intended for families. |
Typically, you must meet all the following criteria to be able to rent a low-rent housing unit:
- You must be at least 18 years old or be an “emancipated minor”.
- You must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, and currently living in Quebec.
- You have lived in Quebec or, in some cases, in the area served by your Office municipal d’habitation, for at least 12 months in the last two years.
- Your gross monthly income or that of your household cannot be more than the amount set by the government. A gross monthly income means your revenue before paying taxes.
- You must be able to meet your basic needs (personal care, housekeeping etc.) either on your own or with the help of someone else.
It’s important to note that an Office can have additional requirements. For example, setting a limit on the value of things that are owned by tenants. Use the search tool (only available in French) to contact your Office for more information about additional requirements.
How to have access to low-rent housing?
You have to send a written request to your local Office municipal d’habitation. You will need to fill out an application form, called “Demande de logement à loyer modique” (only available in French). You will also have to submit all the requested documents proving that you meet the criteria to live in a low-rent housing.
If you need help to find a low-rent unit, you can contact the Housing Search Assistance Service available at over 40 housing service locations.
What are the documents that you have to provide?
Here are some examples of documents you may need to share to prove that you’re respecting the criteria to live in a low-rent housing. Consult your Office municipal d’habitation to know more about all the needed documents.
Criteria to Prove
Example of Supporting Documents
You are at least 18 years old or you are an emancipated minor.
An ID with a picture (medicare card, driver’s license, etc.).
You are a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident and you live in Quebec.
A Canadian passport or a permanent residency card.
You have lived in Quebec or in the region of your Office municipal d’habitation for at least twelve months in the last two years.
A copy of your current lease.
A copy of one or multiple letters to renew the lease.
Your income or the total income of the people living in the unit doesn’t exceed the amount set by the government.
Your most recent income tax return.
Your provincial notice of assessment.
Your bank statements for the last three months.
You can take care of your main needs by yourself or with some help (washing, and feeding yourself or cleaning up).
The questionnaire on independence included with the housing application form.
In some cases, a medical certificate.
Important! You must give accurate and complete information in your application. Your lease can be cancelled or modified if a low-rent housing unit was given to you after you gave a false statement. This means you gave inaccurate or incomplete information. For example, that can be the case if you only declare a portion of your revenue or if you don’t mention your roommate or partner’s revenue.
How does the Office municipal d’habitation treat your application?
First, the Office municipal d’habitation must decide whether to put you or not on the register of applications to rent a unit. They must inform you of this decision within 30 days after receiving your application.
If the Office registers you to the register of applications, they must decide whether to put you or not on the list of eligible persons. They have 60 days to inform you of this decision.
The Office will then offer the available housing to individuals that are registered on the eligible persons list. Your application will be given priority if:
- Your current housing is unfit to live in.
- You’re experiencing family or domestic violence. You must get and provide a letter from a shelter for victims of domestic or partner violence, the police, or a health and social services organization.
What if your application is refused?
You can apply to the Tribunal administrative du logement (TAL or housing court) to have the Office’s decision reviewed. You must apply within one month of the refusal.
The housing court can order that you be put on the list of eligible persons if it finds that the Office’s refused your application without a valid reason.
FAQ – Your rights as a low-rent housing unit tenant
Yes. You can make request a lower rent to the Office municipal d’habitation if:
- your income goes down
- or if there are changes to the people that live in the unit during your lease.
The Office must inform you of its decision within 30 days of your request.
If the Office refuses, or you can ask the housing court to lower your rent.
Yes, but they have to respect the rules established by the Quebec Housing Corporation (Société d’habitation du Québec). You can challenge a rent increase that doesn’t respect the legal rules in front of the housing court. You must do so within two months of receiving the rent increase notice.
Keep in mind that the Office municipal d’habitation does not have to mention the new rent amount or the amount of the increase in the notice. Also, you don’t have an obligation to answer the notice.
No. You can challenge a change brought to your leasing conditions in front of the housing court. You have to do so within one month of getting the notice. If you don’t challenge the notice, it’s as though you accept the change.
You can also challenge a notice to end the lease in front of the housing court. You have to do so within a month of receiving the notice. Once again, if you don’t challenge the change, it’s as though you have accepted it.
No. You cannot sublet or assign (transfer) your lease when you’re a low-rent housing tenant.
But you are allowed to cancel it at any time. To do so, you must send a three-month notice to the Municipal Housing Office. This notice is called ”Avis de résiliation du bail suite à l’attribution d’un logement à loyer modique” (only available in French).