Dois-je répondre à un avis de reprise ou d'éviction ?

Tu as un mois pour répondre à partir de la réception de l'avis. Mais attention à la différence avec une hausse de loyer : ici, si tu ne réponds rien, tu es considéré avoir REFUSÉ. Le silence joue en ta faveur. Cela dit, répondre par écrit reste plus clair et te laisse une trace.

Quelle est la différence entre une reprise et une éviction ?

Une reprise de logement, c'est quand le propriétaire veut y habiter lui-même ou y loger un proche prévu par la loi. Une éviction, c'est quand il veut subdiviser le logement, l'agrandir substantiellement ou en changer l'affectation. La distinction compte beaucoup : l'éviction donne droit à une indemnité obligatoire, la reprise non.

Ai-je droit à une indemnité ?

En cas d'ÉVICTION, oui : au minimum trois mois de loyer si tu occupes le logement depuis trois ans ou moins, et un mois de loyer par année d'occupation continue au-delà, jusqu'à un maximum de 24 mois de loyer. Les frais de déménagement raisonnables sont aussi à la charge du propriétaire, sur présentation de reçus. En cas de REPRISE, aucune indemnité n'est obligatoire, mais si le propriétaire doit demander l'autorisation du Tribunal, celui-ci peut lui imposer de payer tes frais de déménagement.

Existe-t-il une protection pour les personnes âgées ?

Oui. Un propriétaire ne peut pas reprendre un logement dont le locataire, ou son conjoint, est âgé de 65 ans ou plus, occupe le logement depuis au moins 10 ans, et a un revenu égal ou inférieur à 125 % du revenu maximal donnant droit à un logement à loyer modique. Des exceptions existent, prévues par la loi.

Si je refuse, qui doit s'adresser au Tribunal ?

Le propriétaire. S'il maintient sa demande après ton refus, c'est à lui d'obtenir l'autorisation du Tribunal administratif du logement, et il doit le faire au plus tard un mois après ton refus. À l'audience, c'est aussi à lui de prouver qu'il veut réellement le logement pour le motif indiqué dans l'avis, et non pour te faire partir.

Repossession and eviction of housing in Quebec

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It is probably the letter a tenant dreads most. It announces that the landlord wants to take back the dwelling, or evict you for works.

There are two things to know before doing anything, and the first is the opposite of what people think.

The key point

Saying nothing counts as REFUSAL. That is exactly the opposite of a rent increase notice, where silence counts as acceptance. Here, silence protects you. And if you refuse, it is up to the landlord to go to the Tribunal, within one month of your refusal, and to prove that they genuinely want the dwelling for the reason written in the notice.

The distinctionRepossession or eviction: not the same thing

The two words circulate as if they were interchangeable. They are not, and the difference is measured in months of rent.

Repossessionthe landlord wants to live in the dwelling themselves, or house a relative provided for by law.
Evictionthey want to subdivide the dwelling, substantially enlarge it or change its use.

The notice periods, however, are the same in both cases:

Lease longer than 6 monthsat the latest 6 months before the end of the lease.
Lease of 6 months or lessat the latest 1 month before the end of the lease.
Lease of indeterminate termat the latest 6 months before the intended date.

The reversed trapHere, silence counts as refusal

You have one month from receiving the notice to make your decision known.

Do not confuse this with a rent increase

For a rent increase notice, saying nothing means accepting.
For a repossession or eviction notice, saying nothing means refusing.
The two notices look alike and sometimes arrive in the same envelope. The rule that applies is not the same.

That said, replying in writing remains preferable: it is clearer for everyone, and it leaves you a dated record if the matter ends up before the Tribunal.

If you refuse and the landlord maintains their request, it is up to them to obtain authorisation from the Tribunal administratif du logement, and they must do so within one month of your refusal. Until the Tribunal has ruled, you stay in your home.

At the hearing, the burden of proof is theirs. The landlord must show that they genuinely want the dwelling for the reason stated in the notice, and not to make you leave. Since the changes made in 2024, their good faith is no longer presumed when a tenant claims damages after a repossession or an eviction.

The moneyWhat you are owed, and here, everything changes

This is where the distinction between repossession and eviction becomes very concrete.

In case of EVICTION, mandatory compensation

Three months' rent at minimum if you have occupied the dwelling for three years or less.
Beyond three years: one month's rent per year of continuous occupancy, up to a maximum of 24 months' rent.
Added to that are reasonable moving expenses, boxes, truck, change of address, service transfers, payable by the landlord, on presentation of receipts or invoices.

In case of repossession, by contrast, no compensation is mandatory. But if the landlord has to go through the Tribunal because you refused, it can among other things order them to pay your moving expenses.

In other words: the first question to ask on receiving the notice is which of the two it is. The reason must be written in it.

A real protectionThose 65 and over

A landlord cannot repossess a dwelling where the tenant, or their spouse, meets all three of these conditions:

be 65 or over;
have occupied the dwelling for at least 10 years;
have an income equal to or below 125% of the maximum income qualifying for low-rental housing.

Exceptions are provided by law. But if you meet these three conditions, that is the first thing to check before any other step, and one more reason to go and see a housing committee.

Where to find free help

Housing committees and tenants' associations know these files inside out and provide support free of charge: reading the notice, checking whether it is valid, drafting a refusal, preparing for a hearing. 211 can point you to the one in your area, 24 hours a day in western Quebec, elsewhere from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. Legal aid can also support you depending on your income.

Frequently askedYour questions

Do I have to reply to a repossession or eviction notice?

You have one month to reply from receiving the notice. But beware of the difference from a rent increase: here, if you reply nothing, you are considered to have REFUSED. Silence works in your favour. That said, replying in writing is clearer and leaves you a record.

What is the difference between a repossession and an eviction?

A repossession is when the landlord wants to live in the dwelling themselves or house a relative provided for by law. An eviction is when they want to subdivide the dwelling, substantially enlarge it or change its use. The distinction matters a great deal: eviction gives a right to mandatory compensation, repossession does not.

Am I entitled to compensation?

In case of EVICTION, yes: at minimum three months' rent if you have occupied the dwelling for three years or less, and one month's rent per year of continuous occupancy beyond that, up to a maximum of 24 months' rent. Reasonable moving expenses are also payable by the landlord, on presentation of receipts. In case of REPOSSESSION, no compensation is mandatory, but if the landlord must seek the Tribunal's authorisation, it can order them to pay your moving expenses.

Is there protection for older people?

Yes. A landlord cannot repossess a dwelling where the tenant, or their spouse, is 65 or over, has occupied the dwelling for at least 10 years, and has an income equal to or below 125% of the maximum income qualifying for low-rental housing. Exceptions exist, provided by law.

If I refuse, who has to go to the Tribunal?

The landlord. If they maintain their request after your refusal, it is up to them to obtain authorisation from the Tribunal administratif du logement, and they must do so within one month of your refusal. At the hearing, it is also up to them to prove that they genuinely want the dwelling for the reason stated in the notice, and not to make you leave.

Do they want to take back your home?