As the owner of a plex or multi-unit building on the North Shore, almost every step you take with tenants runs through a mandatory notice with a precise legal deadline. Sending a notice too late — or of the wrong type — can sink a rent increase, a repossession or planned work. This guide gathers the main mandatory tenant notices in Quebec into one recap table: lease modification and rent increase, major work, entry to the dwelling, repossession and eviction. Who sends it, when, and how. Sources: the Administrative Housing Tribunal (TAT), the Civil Code of Quebec and Éducaloi.
Recap table: which notice, what deadline, how?
Here is the essential at a glance. All these notices are given by the landlord to the tenant, in writing, and the deadlines are counted from the date of receipt by the tenant. The deadlines vary with the length of the lease.
| Notice type | Minimum deadline | Form | Tenant's response |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lease modification / rent increase (lease 12 months and up) | 3 to 6 months before the lease ends | Written | 1 month to refuse; silence = acceptance |
| Modification / increase (lease under 12 months) | 1 to 2 months before expiry | Written | 1 month to refuse; silence = acceptance |
| Modification / increase (indeterminate-term lease) | 1 to 2 months before the change | Written | 1 month to refuse; silence = acceptance |
| Entry to the dwelling (inspection, repair, showing) | 24 hours | Verbal or written | Cannot refuse without cause; 7 a.m.–7 p.m. |
| Major work (vacate < 1 week) | 10 days | Written | May contest at the TAT within 10 days |
| Major work (vacate > 1 week) | 3 months | Written | May contest at the TAT within 10 days |
| Repossession (lease 6 months and up) | 6 months before the lease ends | Written | 1 month to reply; silence = refusal |
| Repossession (lease 6 months or less) | 1 month before the lease ends | Written | 1 month to reply; silence = refusal |
| Eviction (subdivision, enlargement, change of use) | 6 months before the end (lease 6 months and up) | Written | 1 month to reply; tenant compensation due |
Sources: Administrative Housing Tribunal, Civil Code of Quebec (art. 1898, 1922-1929, 1942-1963) and Éducaloi — Housing. This table is a summary; always confirm your specific situation with the TAT.
Lease modification and rent-increase notice
To raise the rent or change a lease condition (for example, removing a parking spot), you must send a notice of lease modification. For a lease of 12 months or more, it must reach the tenant 3 to 6 months before the lease ends. For a lease shorter than 12 months, the deadline is 1 to 2 months; for an indeterminate-term lease, 1 to 2 months before the intended change.
The tenant then has 1 month to refuse in writing. If they do not reply, they are deemed to have accepted the change. If they refuse but stay in the dwelling, it is up to you, the landlord, to apply to the TAT to have the rent set. The size of the increase must stay reasonable under the TAT's new rent-calculation method, which weighs inflation, taxes, insurance and major work.
Notice of entry: the 24-hour rule
A rented dwelling remains the tenant's home: you cannot enter at will. To inspect the dwelling, carry out repairs or show it to a prospective tenant or buyer, you must give at least 24 hours' notice. The visit or work must take place between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., except in an emergency (water damage, heating failure), where access is immediate without prior notice.
- Inspection, maintenance, non-urgent repair: 24 hours' notice.
- Showing to a buyer or a future tenant: 24 hours' notice, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.
- Emergency: immediate access, no prior notice, to protect the dwelling.
The entry notice may be verbal, but a written one protects you in a dispute. The tenant cannot refuse justified access, but may require your presence during the visit.
Notice of major work
Major work (non-urgent) that forces the tenant to temporarily leave the dwelling requires a notice whose length depends on how long the evacuation lasts:
- Evacuation of under one week: at least 10 days' notice.
- Evacuation of one week or more: at least 3 months' notice.
The notice must state the nature of the work, the start date, the expected duration and, where applicable, the compensation or rehousing offered. The tenant has 10 days to notify you that they refuse to leave; it is then up to you to apply to the TAT. Planning these notices carefully is essential before undertaking a large renovation or preparing a building for sale.
Best practices for a valid notice
- Draft the notice in the language of the lease and state the exact dwelling address.
- Use a delivery method that proves receipt (hand delivery with acknowledgement, registered mail).
- Count the deadline from the date of receipt, never from the date of sending.
- Keep a dated copy of each notice and its proof of delivery.
Repossession and eviction notices
Repossession lets a landlord who is a natural person take back the dwelling to live in it or house an eligible relative (child, parent, or former spouse for whom they remain the main support). Eviction, by contrast, aims to subdivide, substantially enlarge or change the use of the dwelling. The deadlines are identical:
- Lease of 6 months or more: at least 6 months' notice before the lease ends.
- Lease of 6 months or less: at least 1 month's notice before the end.
- Indeterminate-term lease: at least 6 months' notice before the repossession.
The tenant has 1 month to reply. Unlike a rent increase, here silence counts as a refusal: without a favourable reply, you must apply to the TAT for authorization within the following month. Eviction, moreover, entitles the tenant to compensation. For North Shore owners, we detail the process in our guide on repossession for owner occupancy and your rights in 2026. Note too that Law 31 now frames lease assignment, another notice worth knowing.
Common mistakes that void a notice
A poorly prepared notice can be rejected by the TAT and cost you a full year. The most common traps:
- Counting the deadline from the sending date: the clock starts on receipt. Allow for mail transit.
- A verbal notice for a repossession or modification: these must be written, otherwise they are invalid.
- Forgetting to apply to the TAT within the month: after a repossession refusal, you have 1 month to act, or the process is time-barred.
- Confusing repossession and eviction: eviction triggers compensation and targets different grounds.
- Going past 7 p.m. or skipping the entry notice: even a sale showing needs 24 hours' notice.
If you are unsure about a deadline or a notice template, consult the TAT directly or a legal service. The articles on this blog are informational and do not replace legal advice.
