Bill 898: An Act to reinforce the regulation of rent increases for a lease of a dwelling

This bill directly affects residential landlords in Quebec — from small-time property owners renting out a duplex or triplex to larger apartment building operators managing dozens of units. If you're a landlord sending out rent increase notices each year, you'll need to include more detail (both the dollar amount and percentage of the increase), and if your proposed increase goes above a government-set threshold, you'll be required to file an application with the Tribunal Administratif du Logement within a strict deadline or your rent automatically stays the same. Landlords who recently built new rental units or converted a building to residential use will lose two years of their current exemption from these rules, meaning they'll face rent control oversight sooner than before. The notice requirements and mandatory tribunal filing process add administrative steps and potential legal costs to routine lease renewals for anyone in the rental housing business in Quebec.