Lease Renewal Agreement — Quebec (Accord de renouvellement de bail)

In Quebec, residential leases are automatically renewed at the end of their term unless the landlord or tenant gives proper notice. Under CCQ art. 1941, the landlord must notify the tenant of any proposed changes to the lease (including rent increases) within specific notice periods: 3 to 6 months before lease expiry for fixed-term leases of 12 months or more. The tenant then has 1 month to respond. If the tenant does not respond, they are deemed to have accepted the changes. If the tenant refuses the changes, the landlord may seek to repossess the unit or file with the TAL. Rent increases must comply with TAL guidelines.

A Quebec Lease Renewal Agreement does not legally require a lawyer, and landlords and tenants may draft and execute it independently. The Civil Code of Quebec (CCQ), art. 1851-2000 does not mandate legal representation for lease renewals. However, independent legal advice from a qualified Quebec lawyer is recommended where the renewed lease includes modified conditions about significant renovations, major rent adjustments, or changes to occupancy terms. The Tribunal administratif du logement (TAL) provides free information services and dispute resolution for residential tenancy matters. The Superior Court of Quebec has jurisdiction over disputes that exceed the TAL's jurisdiction. Professional review is advisable where the renewal agreement will significantly alter the parties' rights under the standard TAL lease form (Form F).

Under CCQ art. 1942, a landlord must send written notice of any proposed rent increase or modification of conditions to the tenant within the following periods before the lease expiry: three to six months for a fixed-term lease of 12 months or more; one to two months for a fixed-term lease of less than 12 months or for a month-to-month lease. The notice must specify the proposed new rent in dollars, allowing the tenant to evaluate the increase. The tenant has one month from receipt of the notice to accept or refuse the changes. If the tenant fails to respond, they are deemed to have accepted the proposed changes under CCQ art. 1944. The Tribunal administratif du logement (TAL) publishes annual rent increase guidelines that landlords should consult to determine reasonable increases. Revenu Quebec may require landlords to report rental income adjustments.

If a tenant refuses the proposed rent increase within the one-month response period, the landlord has two options under CCQ art. 1945. The landlord may accept the renewal without the proposed increase, effectively renewing the lease on the existing terms. Alternatively, the landlord may apply to the Tribunal administratif du logement (TAL) to fix the rent for the renewed term. The TAL will assess whether the proposed increase is justified based on the landlord's operating costs, the building's condition, comparable rents, and the TAL's annual guidance. If the landlord intends to repossess the dwelling for personal use or to subdivide it, specific procedures under CCQ arts. 1957-1970 must be followed. The Commission des normes, de l'equite, de la sante et de la securite du travail (CNESST) plays no role in residential tenancy disputes, which are exclusively handled by the TAL.

No. In Quebec, a lease renewal under CCQ art. 1941 continues the same tenancy relationship — it does not create a new lease or reset the tenant's accumulated rights. The tenant retains all rights accrued during the previous lease term, including rights related to the security deposit (if any), maintenance history, and any addendums attached to the original lease. Significant protections that carry over include the tenant's right to maintain occupancy under CCQ art. 1936, the prohibition on unreasonable rent increases, and the right to contest modifications through the Tribunal administratif du logement (TAL). However, where the parties execute a completely new lease document rather than a simple renewal notice, legal advice is advisable to ensure that pre-existing tenant rights are not inadvertently extinguished. Forms-legal.com provides this template as a starting point for Quebec-compliant lease renewal documentation.