In Quebec, many tenants have received notices of foreclosure on their homes in recent weeks. Owners who want to repossess an apartment whose lease ends July 1 had until December 31, 2023 to inform their residents.
According to housing committees, the number of evictions and housing expropriations has increased significantly in recent years. According to the annual report of the Regroupement des logement committees and tenant associations of Quebec, tenant eviction cases in Quebec increased by 132% in 2023 compared to 2022 data.
The blow is hard for many tenants, as was the case for François Viau, who lived in his house for ten years. The man received a notice of foreclosure on his home on December 28th. The owner who owns the quadruplex will move there with his family.
It's a shock. It's very sad.
The current real estate situation means François Viau could face a race against time. A new, smaller home would cost double or triple what the renter is currently paying. He wants to challenge his decision to take back the apartment.
François Viau received a notice of foreclosure on his apartment on December 28th.
FRAPRU worried
The spokesperson for the Popular Action Front for Urban Redevelopment (FRAPRU), Véronique Laflamme, is sounding the alarm.
According to them, housing seizures and malicious evictions are increasing and, under current conditions, housing insecurity and even homelessness are increasing.
Sincerity? Bad faith?
A eviction is permitted if it is carried out to subdivide the accommodation, to demolish the accommodation, to substantially enlarge the accommodation or to change the use of the accommodation (e.g. by converting it into a commercial office). It is also permitted for the owner to take over accommodation to live in or accommodate a loved one.
A The eviction is carried out with bad intentions if it is done for a reason other than that permitted by law, if it is done with wrong motives, if it is done to harm the tenant, or if the owner acts excessively or unreasonably. In this case, the tenant can request compensation from the housing administration court. Evictions that serve solely to renovate a house (so-called renovations) are evictions in bad faith. At the same time, bad faith occurs if the owner takes back his apartment to accommodate a family member, but ultimately rents it out to another tenant for a higher amount.
Source: Educaloi
Véronique Laflamme is also concerned that certain regions of Quebec that had previously been relatively spared from the housing crisis are now facing similar pressures. She is thinking in particular of Mauricie, Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean and Estrie.
However, the latest housing construction data is being disputed by the Corporation of Real Estate Owners of Quebec (CORPIQ). According to this association, fraudulent evictions are isolated incidents and many repossessions or evictions are carried out by owners in good faith.
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In the show Tout un matin on ICI Première, Véronique Laflamme presents numerous solutions to limit fraudulent evictions. In your opinion, mandatory rent control through a rent register could deter defaulting landlords.
The speaker also advocates for the creation of affordable housing and the construction of housing outside the private market, such as low-income housing (HLM), across the province. Véronique Laflamme says that the share of non-market housing is currently 10%, which in her eyes is not enough.
Otherwise, FRAPRU recommends that owners fill out the Administrative Housing Tribunal calculation form. This is a form that owners do not have to fill out even if they should, judge Véronique Laflamme rules.
She believes that making this index mandatory would allow for better control.
Véronique Laflamme concludes by calling on tenants to be vigilant and to inform themselves about their rights. The speaker is sad that many people, often at risk, sign under pressure.
We won't repeat it often enough. You must get all the information before you sign anything, inform yourself, find out about your rights, find out about your legal remedies.
With information from Marie-Isabelle Rochon and the program Tout un matin