New apartment? You have rights as soon as you sign the lease.

 In Quebec, landlords are legally required to disclose the lowest rent paid in the 12 months preceding a new tenant's lease. 

This information must be provided in writing when the lease is signed and is typically recorded in Section G of the standard lease form.

When Section G Is Not Completed

If Section G is left blank, the landlord must still provide this information. They are obligated to inform the new tenant of the last rent paid and the date of that payment, even if the unit has been vacant for over 12 months .

What to Do If the Landlord Fails to Disclose or Provides False Information

If the landlord does not provide the required information or provides false information, the new tenant has specific rights:

• If the landlord fails to provide the information: The tenant has two months from the lease start date to file a complaint with the Tribunal administratif du logement (TAL) to request a rent adjustment.

• If the landlord provides false information: The tenant has two months from discovering the false information to file a complaint with the TAL.

In both cases, the TAL can determine a fair rent based on the previous rent and apply standard rent increase criteria.

Additionally, if the landlord knowingly provided false information, the tenant may be entitled to punitive damages.

Exceptions to the Disclosure Requirement

Landlords are not required to disclose the previous rent in the following situations:

• The dwelling is in a housing cooperative where the tenant is a member.

• The dwelling is a low-rent housing unit (HLM).

• The dwelling is in a building less than five years old.

• The dwelling is in a building that has been used for rental purposes for less than five years .

  
  

If you find yourself in a situation where the landlord has not provided the required information or has provided false information, you can contact the TAL for guidance on how to proceed.