Parc-Extension is one of the most densely populated and culturally rich neighbourhoods in the city. For tenants living here amid small plexes, apartment buildings and mixed-use blocks the rules around what a landlord can and cannot do carry particular weight, especially given the rising pressures of housing, rental turnover and community change.
If you’re renting in Parc-Extension and your landlord asks you to vacate your home, it helps to know your rights and what pathways exist. The scenarios below reflect Québec law, and while they apply broadly across Montréal, they’re especially relevant in a neighbourhood like this where many tenants are newcomers, navigating multiple languages and housing transitions.
When your landlord asks you to leave
There are four key situations you should know about: eviction for change of use, evacuation for major repairs, expulsion for unpaid rent, and a landlord’s “reprise” of the dwelling (taking it back for personal use or for a family member). Let’s walk through each of them, tying them to what could especially matter in a dense community like Parc-Extension.
1. Eviction for change of use or subdivision
A landlord may claim they want to evict you in order to subdivide the unit, enlarge the property, or change its use (for instance converting residential to something else). Under Québec law, until 6 June 2027, a landlord may not send a valid eviction notice for these specific reasons of subdivision, enlargement or new usage. If you have received such an eviction notice for those purposes, you do not need to respond you have the right to remain in your home.
In a community like Parc-Extension, where older apartment buildings and multiplexes abound, and where immigrant-renters may be more vulnerable to pressure, this protection is meaningful. Having the legal breathing space until 2027 means you’re less exposed to displacement from a landlord driven by redevelopment motives.
2. Evacuation for major repairs
If the landlord asks you to vacate temporarily because major repairs are required (but not for subdivision or conversion), then they must send you a formal notice. That notice must state the amount of compensation the landlord offers you for that temporary relocation. If you refuse or simply do not respond, that is treated as a refusal. If the landlord wishes to pursue the process despite your refusal, they have to apply to the Tribunal administratif du logement (TAL) for permission.
A few extra protections apply: your lease remains valid during this time. Your current rent stays the same even while you’re out for repairs and cannot be increased mid-lease because of the repairs. After the repairs, you should get your home back in good condition and at the same rent. Only when the lease is up for renewal can the landlord then look to factor in the cost of the work.
3. Expulsion for unpaid or frequently late rent
When a tenant has failed to pay rent, or pays habitually late (for example payment more than three weeks late or repeated lateness), a landlord may ask the TAL to end the lease. The landlord must show the delay or repeated lateness is causing serious harm. If the TAL ends the lease, you must leave. If you don’t, the landlord can request a bailiff to evict you.
If eviction happens, you must remove your belongings by the eviction date (or at latest by that day). Some boroughs offer storage for your goods, free or paid, for 30-60 days depending on the case. This potential assistance is relevant in a community where tenants may have fewer resources or less space to move quickly.
4. Landlord taking back the dwelling (“reprise de logement”)
The landlord may serve a notice of takeover to live in the unit themselves, or to house an immediate family member or someone of which they are the main provider. That notice is only valid if the landlord meets the deadlines and conditions set by law. If you refuse to leave, you must do so in writing or simply not respond (which is treated as refusal). After refusal the landlord has one month to apply to the TAL.
If the TAL approves the takeover and you must leave, you may ask the landlord to reimburse your moving expenses. The Tribunal may also impose fair and reasonable conditions. Also important: if you are 65 or older, on modest income and you’ve lived in the unit for at least 10 years, the landlord cannot take the unit back. There are exceptions (for example if the landlord is 65 + and wishes to live in the unit, or house someone 65 + etc).
What you can do
Because Parc-Extension is so diverse (nearly 70% of residents born outside Canada; many speaking a mother tongue other than French or English), tenant rights can be harder to navigate. Here are general pointers:
Get any written notice from your landlord in writing (date, reason given, what they’re asking you to do).
Stay informed: you can consult the TAL website or Éducaloi for detailed legal norms.
Connect with local housing-rights committees (there are associations in Parc-Extension that speak several languages) who can help explain your rights.
If you receive a notice for works or takeover etc, ask what your options are especially what compensation or conditions apply.
Don’t ignore notices. Even if you believe your situation is protected, it’s safer to get advice and respond accordingly.
