Repossessing Apartments: Five Situations in Which It’s Not Allowed  

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Each year, many tenants in Quebec receive notices from landlords to take back or “repossess” their apartment so the landlord can move in or house a family member. In many cases, the landlord is allowed to do this, but here are five situations in which it’s not permitted. 

Important!
This article is about situations in which a landlord asks a tenant to leave so that they can move in or house a family member. The legal term for this is repossession. This is different from a situation in which a landlord wants a tenant to leave in order to enlarge, subdivide, demolish, or change the use of an apartment. That is known as “eviction”. As of June 6, 2024, there are major restrictions on evictions in Quebec. For more information, see our article on Eviction.

Although a landlord can generally repossess an apartment to live there or house a family member, here are five situations in which it’s not allowed.  

A company owns the building 

If a company owns the building in which you live, repossession isn’t possible. So, for example, if the building manager or the company owner wants to move in, the company can’t legally repossess your apartment and force you to leave. Only a physical person can repossess an apartment.  

Your landlord has a similar apartment available 

Your landlord cannot repossess your apartment if they own a similar one that is vacant or will be on the date they’re planning to take back your apartment.

However, the other apartment must be similar in size, location and monthly rent for you to benefit from this protection.   

You are a low-income senior

Your landlord cannot repossess your apartment if you (or your spouse) meet all the following conditions: 

  • You (or your spouse) are 65 years or older,  
  • you have lived in the apartment for at least 10 years,   
  • your annual income is less than or equal to 125% of the income level that qualifies you for low-rental housing (HLM).  

However, a landlord who is 65 years old or over can repossess an apartment to live in it even if the tenant meets the above conditions. For more information, contact the Tribunal administratif du logement (TAL or rental board).

Important: The above-mentioned rules concerning age and income generally apply to cases in which the landlord sent the notice of repossession on or after May 22, 2024. If the landlord sent the notice before that date, the minimum age is 70 and the maximum income is 100% of the income level that would qualify the tenant for low-rental housing (HLM).   

You were not given enough notice 

For a notice of repossession to be valid, the landlord must give you sufficient notice. This is a legal requirement.  

  • If your lease is longer than six months, your landlord must send the notice at least six months before the end of your lease.  
  • If your lease is for six months or less, the landlord must send the notice at least one month before the end of your lease.  
  • If your lease has no set length (also known as a lease with an indeterminate term), your landlord must send the notice at least six months before the date they plan to repossess the apartment.  

The unit is owned in undivided co-ownership 

Undivided co-ownership exists when more than one person owns a building that is not divided into condos (divided co-ownership). 

Co-owners of a rental unit cannot repossess it unless they are spouses. For example, if two friends buy a building together, neither of them can repossess an apartment. 

For more information on repossession, see our article: Repossession of Rental Housing