July 1st – Moving day – The Régie du logement is just a phone call away

On July first, the Régie du logement will respond to inquiries from tenants and landlords. In Québec, most housing leases end on June 30, with the result that many people move then each year. Although July 1 is a statutory holiday, again this year, the Régie will be just a phone call away so as to respond to information requests on that often frenzied day.

Telephone information service clerks will be on duty July 1, from 8:30 a.m. to noon and from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Please note, however, that the staff on duty will be reduced and no services will be provided at the counters of the various Régie du logement offices. Our offices will be open on Thursday July 2 during the usual office hours.

To reach the Régie by phone, call the following numbers:

Montréal area
(514) 873-2245 (BAIL)

Elsewhere in Québec
1 800 683-2245 (BAIL)

Rights and obligations

The Régie du logement reminds the public that a new tenant’s right to occupy the premises begins on the first day of the lease. The former tenant has no “grace period” to vacate the premises and remove his or her belongings from the dwelling. The former tenant has an obligation to hand over the dwelling in the condition in which he or she received it.

Circumstances may arise that mean the old tenant’s move is not complete before the arrival of the new occupant. In that case, the old tenant must give the new tenant access to the dwelling. It is recommended to vacate one room, or several rooms if possible, so that the new tenant can put his or her belongings there.

The landlord has the obligation to deliver the dwelling in good condition on the date agreed upon and should therefore check the state of the premises after the departure of the former tenants. He would be wise to establish the terms and conditions for the move by consulting with both the new and the old tenant. The Régie du logement invites all those involved to be courteous and civic-minded, and exercise their rights in a reasonable manner.

We remind you that the interactive voice response system and the website of the Régie du logement (www.rdl.gouv.qc.ca) make it possible to obtain precise, relevant information at any time on the rights and obligations of tenants and landlords.

The Régie du logement is the tribunal with exclusive jurisdiction over rental housing in Québec.

Press release from Portail Québec.

Moving without bedbugs

MONTRÉAL, June 19, 2015 – Moving time is almost upon us and with it the possibility of an increase in bedbug infestations. The city would like to point out a few prevention tips and remind those who will be moving to leave their old apartments free of harmful insects and to avoid moving them to a new dwelling unit.

Acting quickly is the best solution
If you discover bedbugs in your apartment, immediately notify your landlord, who will need to call a certified exterminator. If the landlord does not act after a ten-day period, call 311 to notify your borough of the infestation problem. The borough could require action on the part of the landlord within a prescribed period under penalty of a fine.

Never try to get rid of bedbugs by yourself. The use of insecticides may be ineffective and are often toxic. These products could cause the bedbugs to spread to your neighbours’ dwellings or increase their resistance to extermination products.

Infested mattresses or furniture
Most bedbug-infested mattresses and upholstered furniture can be treated. Before getting rid of such items, ask a certified exterminator for advice.

If they cannot be treated and the exterminator tells you to get rid of them, make them unusable by slashing the fabric with a knife or an X-Acto. This way, people will not be tempted to bring the items home and they will avoid infesting their dwellings.

After slashing the fabric of your mattress, enclose it in an extra-large plastic bag before taking it out of your dwelling. This will prevent bedbugs from dropping from your mattress and infesting common areas as well as your neighbours’ apartments. Extra-large plastic bags are available for free at most Accès Montréal offices.

Never pick up mattresses, upholstered furniture, sofas, chairs, sofa-beds, futons or used clothing from the curb, even if they appear to be in good condition. They could be infested with bedbugs.

For more information on bedbugs, how to avoid or control infestations, please visit the Web at: avoidbedbugs.info. You will also find useful prevention tips for travellers.

 

SOURCE Ville de Montréal

Your moving ? Did you think about changing your address ?

Moving is not only making boxes, you have to change your address. The service québécois de changement d’adresse offers you the chance to send your new address to the participating departments and agencies below in one operation.

Check the information list before getting started.

 

Nevertheless, some exceptions are applied. Make sure to fufill all the obligations before applying. Click here to apply and for more informations.

The Ville de Montréal invites households who will be without a home as of July 1 to call 514 868-4002 for assistance

Here is a presse release from the Ville de Montréal.

Montréal, le 8 juin 2015 – The moving period is approaching and Russell Copeman, member of the Montréal Executive Committee, responsible for housing, announced that the city is, again this year, implementing measures to help low-income households who will be without a home as of July 1. Montrealers who have reason to believe that they will be without a home as of July 1 may call starting today the referral service help line at 514-868-4002 for assistance in finding housing.

“Although the July-1 period emergency situation is less severe than in the early 2000s, we understand that families who find themselves without a home can go through hardships. The referral service will step up efforts between June 8 and July 3 to help households find a home. Large affordable housing units are scarce, and this service is aimed especially at low-income households who will be without a home this moving period. We urge them to call the help line for assistance,” said Mr. Copeman.

In 2014, between mid-June and mid-July, 26 households received assistance from the city and its partners, 8 more than for the same period in 2013. The city administration works closely with the Office municipal d’habitation de Montréal and with community and humanitarian organizations, including Sun Youth, to provide temporary lodging to households without a home and to make sure that no one is left out on the street on July 1.

Although the situation has improved significantly, it is still difficult for vulnerable Montréal households to find large, low-rent housing in the city. Montréal continues to promote the development of affordable housing, including social and community units. Since 2002, close to 16,000 housing units of this type were developed in Montréal. Approximately 6,100 of those units are family-housing units, including a significant number of large units, 2,500 of which with three bedrooms or more. Projects that include hundreds of housing units are in planning.

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