Filing a TAT application — an application to Quebec's Tribunal administratif du logement (formerly the Régie du logement) — is the landlord's core remedy when a tenant fails to pay, causes damage, or refuses to leave. But the TAT is a tribunal: it runs on precise rules, demands the right evidence, and imposes timelines. This procedural guide, written for owners of plexes and multi-unit buildings on the North Shore, walks through every step — from choosing the right remedy to filing the form, paying the fees, assembling your evidence, attending the hearing and enforcing the decision. The goal: help you avoid the mistakes that cost time and money before the Tribunal.
When should a landlord file a TAT application?
The TAT is the specialized tribunal that decides disputes between landlords and tenants in Quebec. As a landlord, you can file an application in several situations: non-payment of rent (the most common ground), cancellation of the lease, recovery of a debt (rent owed, damages), a claim for damage to the unit, plus rent fixing and other remedies provided by law.
One legal point governs non-payment: under the Civil Code of Quebec, as explained by Éducaloi, a landlord may ask to cancel the lease when the tenant is more than three weeks late paying the rent. A single delay of a few days generally isn't enough. Before filing, make sure your situation clears the legal threshold — otherwise your application risks being dismissed. When non-payment drags on, many owners weigh whether to keep pursuing the remedy or sell; we cover that trade-off in our article on unpaid rent and whether to sell or wait.
The 5 steps to file a TAT application
The procedure follows a logical sequence. Respecting the order avoids back-and-forth and dismissals on technicalities.
- Identify the right remedy. Non-payment and cancellation, recovery, damages: each type has its own form and sometimes its own fee. Choosing the wrong remedy delays the whole file.
- Gather the documents. Lease, statement of amounts owed, notices already sent, the tenant's exact address and full name. An identification error can void the summons.
- Complete and file the application. Online through the TAT service, by mail, or in person at a Tribunal office, and pay the fee.
- Wait for the summons. The TAT sets the hearing date and summons the parties. Make sure the tenant's details are accurate so service is valid.
- Attend the hearing. With your complete, organized evidence file. On hearing day, your preparation is what makes the difference.
How much does a TAT application cost, and which form do you use?
Filing fees depend on the type and amount of the application. The TAT publishes an official fee schedule that is indexed each year. The table below gives an order of magnitude for common categories; always check the exact, current amount in the "Fees" section of the Tribunal's website before you pay.
| Type of application | Indicative fee range | Where to file |
|---|---|---|
| Non-payment and lease cancellation | Common category (indexed, ~$78–$105 depending on the year) | Online, mail or office |
| Debt recovery / damages | Varies with the amount claimed | Online, mail or office |
| General application (other remedies) | Per the official schedule | Online, mail or office |
On the forms side, the TAT offers an online application service as well as downloadable forms. You don't have to guess: the site guides you to the right remedy for your situation. Good news for the wallet: if you win, you can generally claim these fees back from the tenant as costs.
Source: Tribunal administratif du logement — Fees and costs and the "Apply to the Tribunal" section. Check the official website for the current indexed amounts.
How do you build a solid evidence file?
Before the TAT, the burden of proof rests on the applicant — that is, you. The judge doesn't take your word for granted: they weigh what you demonstrate. An organized, chronological, documented file beats a long narrative. Before the hearing, gather:
- The signed lease and any amendment or notice (including a repossession or renewal notice if applicable).
- A clear rent statement of amounts owed and paid, month by month, with the exact balance claimed.
- Written communications: emails, texts, letters, formal demands — dated.
- Proof of damage where relevant: dated photos, reports, quotes and repair invoices.
- Proof of payment or non-payment (bank statements, returned cheques).
How does the TAT hearing work?
The hearing is presided over by an administrative judge of the Tribunal. It is public and follows an orderly sequence: the applicant presents their evidence first, then the tenant responds. Each party may be heard, produce documents, and ask questions. The judge may put their own questions to clarify the facts.
Representation by a lawyer is not mandatory: the TAT is designed to be accessible without a jurist. You can represent yourself, which most small landlords do. For complex or high-stakes files, a lawyer can be a wise investment.
If the tenant doesn't show up
When the tenant is absent and was validly summoned, the Tribunal may hear the application and rule in their absence. Careful: you still have to present your evidence. The tenant's absence does not automatically guarantee a win.
After the decision: recovery and enforcement
The judge renders a decision, sometimes on the spot, often in writing in the following weeks. If it favours you — say an order to pay rent owed, or an eviction order — the enforcement step remains, and it's the most misunderstood one.
For eviction: even with a decision ordering it, you cannot evict the tenant yourself. Only a mandated bailiff can carry out enforcement, after the deadline set in the decision. Changing the locks, cutting off services, or removing the tenant's belongings is illegal and can expose you to legal claims. For recovery of money, the decision is an enforceable title a bailiff can act on (a seizure, for example). If you'd rather turn the page, coldly compare the cost of the remedy against the cost of an exit; that's the calculation we detail in our analysis of selling your plex or waiting when rent goes unpaid.
Source: Tribunal administratif du logement and Éducaloi — Housing.
Common mistakes that lose the case
- Filing too early. Asking for cancellation before the three-week threshold invites dismissal.
- Misidentifying the tenant. A wrong name or address voids service and pushes back the hearing.
- Arriving without organized evidence. A confused file weakens an otherwise sound application.
- Taking justice into your own hands. Changing the locks before bailiff enforcement is illegal.
- Forgetting to claim costs. You can ask for reimbursement of the fees from the losing tenant.
