By Nathalie Vallerand

High rent, lack of space, noise complaints from the neighbours ... What are the main challenges faced by families who live in rental housing? What are some of the perks?

Finding a place to rent can be tricky, especially since not all landlords are willing to rent to families with children. They often say so indirectly, such as by advertising that their property is ideal for retirees, couples, or singles.

This type of discrimination is prohibited by the Civil Code of Québec and the provincial Charter of human rights and freedoms. But since it isn’t hard to find prospective tenants, some landlords avoid renting to families due to concerns about noise.

Keep it down!

Éloïse Gaudreau and her 3 and 5-yearold used to live on the second floor of a triplex in Quebec City. “The landlord lived downstairs, and he’d bang on the ceiling with a stick whenever they made noise. It was stressful. I didn’t want to be constantly telling my kids to keep it down, so I decided to move.”

Stéphanie, another mom, recalls having neighbours who complained about hearing her son walking and running around early in the morning. “Robin was a year old at the time, and they asked me to keep him in bed until 8 a.m.!”

According to the law, neighbours must be tolerant of normal neighbourhood annoyances. The sound of footsteps, shuffling chairs, and children laughing or crying are examples of normal, everyday noise. However, the law also states that tenants are entitled to quiet enjoyment of the premises (the right to be able to use their property without unreasonable disturbance). It’s therefore important to avoid making excessive noise that could bother your neighbours.

What should you do if someone complains that your kids are noisy? “Ideally, you want to have a calm, open discussion,” says housing lawyer Antoine Morneau-Sénéchal. “Both sides need to be willing to compromise.” For example, a family could agree to put felt pads under their furniture, lower the volume when watching TV, and not wear shoes indoors.

High rents

The average price of rental housing in Quebec has skyrocketed in recent years, putting pressure on families to move. According to the annual survey by the Coalition of Housing Committees and Tenants Associations of Quebec (RCLALQ), the average rental price for a two-bedroom apartment on Kijiji in 2024 was $1,828 a month, compared with $1,311 a month in 2022. For apartments with three or more bedrooms, the average was over $2,200, up from $1,696 in 2022.

Meanwhile, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) indicates that in 2024, the average monthly rent for a new two-bedroom apartment (completed within the last three years) in Montreal was $2,157, compared with $1,723 in 2020. Unfortunately, rents are expected to go up by an average of 5.9% in 2025—the highest increase in three decades!

The rise in rental prices puts financial pressure on families and makes it even harder for them to find housing that meets their needs. “When there’s not enough affordable housing, low-income families are the first to suffer the consequences,” says the RCLALQ.

The situation is even harder for separated parents who have to pay the rent on only one salary. After separating from her partner, Éloïse found an affordable place in a housing coop. “Rents are cheaper in a co-op, but renters have to do chores in exchange,” she says.

Renting an apartment can be more difficult for families who don’t have a credit history in Canada. That’s what Pierre Richard Carrier and his wife, who are originally from Haiti, experienced after moving to Quebec. “We visited more than a dozen apartments, but it never worked out because we didn’t have any credit history,” says Pierre Richard, father of 6monthold Mathys. “We finally found a half-basement apartment in Laval. The landlord only asked for the first month’s rent in advance in three instalments. We got lucky!”

You don’t need a yard to be happy! Parks and alleys are great places for children to play and for parents to hang out. In Montreal, for example, alleyways are often the site of community gatherings. “We organize all sorts of activities with our neighbours,” says François-Olivier Leblanc, who lives in Montreal with his kids. “We do games and hot chocolate in the winter, drinks after work, Halloween parties, and so on. The parents socialize while the kids have fun.” In many neighbourhoods, as soon as the weather warms up, families head to their local park to have picnics or meet up with friends.

Not enough big apartments

The lack of bigger apartments also makes tenants’ lives more complicated. “Apartments with four or more bedrooms are very rare,” says Xavier Leloup, a researcher at Institut national de la recherche scientifique. “It’s a matter of profitability for landlords—two small apartments bring in more money than one big apartment.”

As a result, families with three or more children may have a hard time finding an apartment that’s big enough. Some are forced to settle for places that are too small, too expensive, and at times unlivable. A report by the Observatoire des tout-petits states that in 2021, one-quarter of all families lived in housing deemed inadequate due to size, cost, or general condition.

Of course, just because an apartment is big doesn’t mean it’s necessarily suitable for families. “There are a lot of loft-style apartments, with just a large open area or only one closed room, which isn’t ideal if you have kids,” says Leloup. “Plus, new neighbourhoods are sometimes developed with no schools nearby, which is inconvenient for families.”

On the bright side

Having good neighbours can be a big advantage when you live in an apartment. “I get along well with my neighbours,” says Guylaine, who lives in a fourplex in Montreal with her son, Rémi. “In the summer, we have a community garden and we’ll sometimes share a barbecue. We also help each other out. For instance, my landlord often picks my son up from kindergarten and babysits him at her place until I get home from work.”

“There are lots of families with kids on my street in Montreal,” says Claudine. “My daughter has friends nearby, and all the neighbours know each other. It reminds me of my own childhood. I also like the cultural diversity of the neighbourhood. It’s good for my daughter.”

Another positive aspect of living in an apartment is that there’s less maintenance to do. “I don’t have to mow the lawn, and if anything breaks, the landlord takes care of it,” says Claudine. “We get to spend more time together as a family!” It also means not having to worry about big, unexpected expenses for things like a leaky roof or defective heating.

What’s more, since many apartments are located in the city, they’re usually closer to public transit. “I live a seven-minute walk from the metro, which is really handy,” says Pierre Richard. “It’s easy for me to get to work.”

The proximity of stores and services is another asset. It allows families to get by without a car, which helps lower their expenses. “The grocery store, the pharmacy, my kids’ school—everything is walking distance,” says Geneviève, who lives in Montreal with her three children.

Dreams of homeownership

Still, for many people, owning a home is a symbol of success. Some renters dream of becoming homeowners, even if that dream isn’t always realistic.

“My ex and I owned a house together,” says Geneviève. “It was a big achievement for me, but we lost it due to financial problems. That was really tough. I still dream of having a house of my own one day.”

The biggest downside to living in an apartment is not being free to do whatever you want. Tenants have to abide by certain rules. If you want to open a home daycare, for instance, or own a pet, you first need to get your landlord’s approval.

“Rent is an expense, while a house is an investment,” says Stéphanie, Robin’s mom. “On the other hand, I don’t have to spend years paying off a mortgage. And as a tenant, I can leave when my lease ends. It’s less complicated than selling a house.”

Here are the answers to frequently asked questions from parents who rent.

1. How do I know if my landlord’s rent increase is fair?

The Tribunal administratif du logement (TAL) has an online calculation tool (available in French only) that can help you figure out if a proposed rent increase is reasonable. To use it, however, you must know the building’s operating expenses (taxes, insurance, maintenance, etc.).

You can ask your landlord for this information, but it’s not always easy to get, according to the RCLALQ. The organization recommends getting advice from your local housing committee, if there’s one in your city or neighbourhood.

You can also refuse a rent increase while still renewing your lease. You must inform your landlord within one month of receiving the notice of rent increase, otherwise your lease will be automatically renewed at the higher rate. A response form is available on the TAL’s website. “It’s best to send it by registered mail so you have proof of your response,” says lawyer Antoine MorneauSénéchal.

If you refuse a rent increase, your landlord can ask the TAL to set the rent by filing an application no later than one month after your refusal. In the meantime, they can also make you a new offer.

It’s important to be aware that, since the end of 2024, lease modification notices must lay out the following three options for the tenant:

• Accept the rent increase
• Reject the increase and move out
• Reject the increase without moving out

Any notice that doesn’t include all three options may be considered invalid. Many landlords deliberately leave out the option to reject the rent increase without vacating the property, even though it is guaranteed by law.

2. Can a landlord refuse to rent to me on the grounds that the property is too small for my family?

If your family is too large for the size of the unit, the Civil Code of Québec allows the landlord to refuse to rent it to you. But what is the acceptable number of occupants per given area? “That can be open to interpretation, because the Civil Code doesn’t provide specifics,” says MorneauSénéchal.

Montreal and Longueuil are two cities that have set benchmarks in their housing safety bylaws. For instance, in Montreal, a dwelling must provide at least 8.5 sq. m (91 sq. ft.) of living space per person. That means seven people could technically live in a 58 sq. m (600 sq. ft.) apartment. The TAL, however, may determine that a property has too many occupants, even if the bylaw thresholds are respected.

3. Our landlord plans to repossess our home. Is that allowed?

At the start of the year, many tenants receive a notice of repossession stating that their landlord or a family member intends to move into the property. Some landlords use this as a tactic to raise the rent, but if they’re acting in good faith, this practice is legal. The notice of repossession must be served at least six months before the end of your lease. You are entitled to a certain amount to cover your moving expenses if you include this as a condition upon accepting the notice.

If your landlord repossesses your home but does not use it as a residence for either themself or a family member, you can claim damages.

In the event of major renovations, your landlord can ask you to vacate the property while the work is being completed. You have the right to move back in once it’s finished, and your landlord may only increase the rent at the end of your current lease.

In recent years, there has been an increase in renovictions, or attempts by landlords to evict a tenant in order to renovate the property and increase the rental price. Some go so far as to lie about their intent to renovate. This practice is illegal. In certain cases, landlords will offer to pay the tenant to move out for good. This is another tactic to raise the rent.

In 2024, the Quebec government implemented a moratorium on certain types of eviction. It prevents landlords from evicting a tenant for the purpose of enlarging the property, changing its use, or dividing it into multiple units. The moratorium will remain in effect until 2027.

Whatever the circumstances, read up on your rights or contact a housing committee in your area before accepting a notice of repossession. “As soon as you sign an agreement with the landlord indicating your consent, you can no longer change your mind,” says Antoine Morneau-Sénéchal.

4. There’s mould in my children’s bedroom and my landlord won’t do anything about it. What should I do?

You can send your landlord a formal notice by registered mail giving them 10 days to fix the problem. If they don’t respond, you can file a request with your municipality to have an inspector visit your residence. If the inspector deems it to be in violation of municipal bylaws, they can send a formal notice to your landlord to carry out the necessary work.

You can also file a request with the TAL (for a fee of $90) to order your landlord to address the problem or terminate your lease. You will then be summoned to a hearing before the Tribunal. It’s essential to provide photo or video evidence of the damage.

A dwelling may be deemed unfit for habitation if it presents a serious danger to the health or safety of its occupants or the public. Under these circumstances, the tenants have the right to abandon the property and not pay rent for the period during which it is uninhabitable. However, they must notify the landlord in writing of the condition of the property no later than 10 days after abandoning it (a form is available on the TAL’s website).

Keep in mind that abandonment should be a last resort, as it’s up to the tenant to prove that the property is uninhabitable, which can be extremely difficult. If they’re unsuccessful in making their case, the landlord can sue for the unpaid months of rent.

“Whether it’s mould or something else, the poor condition of a property isn’t always a health hazard,” says MorneauSénéchal. “Before abandoning your residence, speak with a housing committee, a lawyer, or your municipality.”

5. What should I do if my neighbours complain that my kids are too noisy?

Neighbours and landlords cannot demand that children make no noise before or after a certain time. According to the law, neighbours must be tolerant of normal neighbourhood annoyances. The sound of footsteps, shuffling chairs, and children laughing or crying are examples of normal, everyday noise.

However, the law also states that tenants are entitled to quiet enjoyment of the premises (the right to be able to use their property without unreasonable disturbance). It’s therefore important to avoid making excessive noise that could bother your neighbours. If they complain, the best thing to do is to have an open, respectful conversation and to try to find ways to compromise so that both sides are happy.

Updated: February 2025 Source: Naître et grandir magazine, April 2019 Research and copywriting: Nathalie Vallerand and Julie Leduc Reviewed by: Julien Delangie, lawyer specializing in housing law

Photos: Maxim Marin, GettyImages/FluxFactory, AleksandarNakic, and mediaphotos