Quebec Landlords Seek Security Deposit Reform

by | Jul 16, 2012 | Rental Property Management Tips

The right to collect a damage deposit not only helps rental owners, it helps tenants as well, says the The Association of Quebec Landlords (APQ).

While APQ has advocated for reform of the Province’s rental laws for many years, the right to collect a deposit is among the more controversial issues.

Currently in Quebec, it is only possible to ask for the first month’s rent during the signing of the lease.

The lack of a deposit can have disastrous consequences for tenants.  If the former tenant causes damage to the property, there can be delays in restoring the rental home in time for the new tenant to move in. A deposit not only serves as an incentive for the former tenant to clean the rental unit, but it also provides a source of funds for the landlord to quickly restore the unit for the next tenant if the former tenant fails t0 do so.

The APQ believes that collecting a deposit would make tenants aware of the impact of their negative behaviour. “The absence of the deposit also shows a lack of coherence between the obligations stipulated by the Civil code and the measures which are at the disposal of the owner,” adds the APQ.

The owner can obviously submit a request at the Régie du logement. Unfortunately, the incurred costs and delays as well as the solvency of the tenant make this procedure ineffective in many cases.

Founded in 1984, the Association of Quebec Landlords (APQ) offers important services to the owners of rental residences in all regions of Quebec.

 

This post is provided by Tenant Verification Service, Inc., helping landlords reduce the risks of renting with fraud prevention tools that include Tenant Screening, Tenant Background Checks, (U.S. and Canada), as well as Criminal Background Checks, and Eviction Reports (U.S. only).

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Disclaimer: The information provided in this post in not intended to be construed as legal advice, nor should it be considered a substitute for obtaining individual legal counsel or consulting your local, state, federal or provincial tenancy laws.

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