Tenant screening built for Quebec landlords.
Quebec law doesn't let you collect a security deposit, not for damage, not for pets, not for keys. That makes knowing who you're renting to before you hand over the keys the only real protection you have. Verified identity, background and watchlist checks, and their Equifax credit, ready in minutes from $19.99.
What Quebec law actually says about renting.
Quebec runs on the Civil Code, not a Residential Tenancies Act, and the rules for deposits, rent increases, and lease renewal look nothing like the rest of Canada. Here's what applies to you as a private landlord, sourced directly.
No security deposit, ever
Under article 1904 of the Civil Code of Québec, a landlord can require only the rent itself, at most the first term, or up to one month in advance if the term runs longer than a month. No deposit “in the form of a deposit or otherwise,” and no post-dated cheques, for any reason, including pets or keys. Ontario, BC, and Alberta all allow some form of deposit; Quebec allows none.
Source: Educaloi · security depositsWho hears disputes, and under what law
Quebec has no standalone Residential Tenancies Act. Leases are governed by the Civil Code of Québec, Book Five, “Of Obligations,” Title Two, “Of Leases” (articles 1851–1978.4). Disputes over rent, repossession, subdivision, and lease renewal go to the Tribunal administratif du logement (TAL), formerly the Régie du logement.
Source: TAL · mission and jurisdictionRent increases: no flat guideline
Unlike Ontario's single percentage, Quebec has no fixed guideline. Instead the TAL publishes a fixation-criteria calculation method a landlord can use to justify an increase, a new 3-year CPI-average formula for notices given from January 1, 2026 onward, replacing the old 13-indicator method. The published 2026 indicative rate is 3.1% for unrenovated units, for leases renewing between April 2, 2026 and April 1, 2027. A tenant can always dispute the amount at the TAL.
Source: TAL · rent increase calculationLeases renew automatically
Neither party has to do anything for a Quebec lease to continue. To change the rent or term, or refuse renewal, the landlord must give written notice: 3–6 months before expiry for a 12-month-plus lease, 1–2 months for a shorter one. The tenant then has 1 month to respond; silence counts as acceptance. A landlord can only refuse renewal for specific grounds, such as repossession for personal or family use, or demolition, subdivision, or a change of purpose.
Source: Educaloi · renewing a leaseTenants can assign or sublet, almost freely
A Quebec tenant has a far stronger right than in most provinces to assign their lease to a new tenant or sublet it. You can only refuse for a “serious reason,” such as the proposed assignee being unable to pay rent or having a poor payment history, and you must respond within 15 days of being notified or you're legally deemed to have consented.
Source: Educaloi · assignment and sublettingTwo more quirks worth knowing
Quebec's Law 25 requires an applicant's express consent before you run a credit or background check and limits how long that data can be kept, and a Social Insurance Number can never be a condition of a rental application. Separately, Bill 96 requires documents registered on title, like deeds or a notice of lease registered against the property, to be in French; an ordinary lease itself can be bilingual, and refusing an applicant for speaking English is prohibited under the Quebec Charter.
Landlord rules by province: Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta
Collecting consent on paper? See our free tenant credit check consent formand the consent rules by province.
In Quebec, there's no deposit to fall back on.
No security deposit, a rent-increase formula instead of a flat rule, and a rental market that's loosening but still tight. The numbers aren't small.
The legal security deposit a Quebec landlord can collect, under article 1904 of the Civil Code
TAL's indicative rent-increase rate for 2026, for unrenovated units renewing April 2026–2027
A Quebec landlord can't hold back a dollar of deposit, not for damage, not for a pet, not for a spare key. That single fact makes screening the applicant properly, before you hand over the keys, the only real financial protection you have.
Every other province in this country lets a landlord collect something upfront. Quebec doesn't, which means the decision you make before signing carries all the weight a deposit would carry anywhere else.
What a tenant background check actually covers.
With no security deposit standing behind you in Quebec, these checks carry more weight than they would anywhere else in Canada. Every check runs through Certn against official records, with credit data from Equifax Canada, and your applicant's express consent, required under Quebec's Law 25, is already built into the flow.
Identity verification
Confirms your applicant is who they claim to be, using their government ID and a live check.
Adverse media check
Scans news articles, press releases, and other public sources for serious red flags.
Global watchlist screening
Checks your applicant against international fraud, sanctions, and criminal watchlists.
Equifax credit report
Essential planCredit score, debts, and payment history pulled straight from the bureau, not sent to you by the applicant.
Tamper-proof sharing: every report is sealed so it can't be edited or faked after the fact.
From applicant to verified report.
Three steps, a few minutes, no paperwork.
Send your applicant a screening link
No account or paperwork on your end. Share one link by text or email and your applicant takes it from there.
Your applicant verifies
They get a secure link, confirm their ID on their phone, and consent to the checks. Takes them a few minutes.
Your report arrives in minutes
A clear, tamper-proof report lands in your inbox, so you can offer the place with confidence.
One report. One price. No subscription.
Choose the package that fits, then pay once per screening.
Since Quebec law doesn't let you collect a security deposit at all, a report like this is about as close to insurance as you can get before you sign.
Try us risk-free. If you're not satisfied with your Quickscreen report, we'll refund you up to $50.
Screening powered by Certn. Managing more than a few units? See tenant screening for property managers for volume pricing and team access.
Got questions?
Questions Quebec landlords actually ask
Can I ask a Quebec tenant for a security deposit?
No. Under article 1904 of the Civil Code of Québec, a landlord can only require the rent itself, at most the first term, or up to one month in advance for a longer term. No deposit of any kind, and no post-dated cheques, for any reason including pets or keys. Every other province in Canada allows some form of deposit; Quebec doesn't.
How do rent increases work in Quebec if there's no fixed guideline?
There's no single percentage the way Ontario has one. Instead, the Tribunal administratif du logement (TAL) publishes a fixation-criteria calculation method a landlord can use to justify an increase, a new 3-year CPI-average formula for notices given from January 1, 2026 onward. The published 2026 indicative rate is 3.1% for unrenovated units, for leases renewing between April 2, 2026 and April 1, 2027, and it can go higher with major renovations or tax and insurance increases. A tenant can always dispute the amount at the TAL.
Does a Quebec lease automatically renew?
Yes. A residential lease in Quebec renews automatically; neither party needs to do anything for it to continue. To propose a change or refuse renewal, the landlord has to give written notice within specific windows before expiry, and even then can only refuse for specific legal grounds, like repossession for personal or family use, or demolition and subdivision.
Can I stop a tenant from subletting or assigning their lease to someone else?
Only for a "serious reason," such as the proposed assignee being unable to pay rent or having a poor payment history. You must respond to the tenant's request within 15 days of being notified, or you're legally deemed to have consented to the assignment or sublease.
Do I need my applicant's Social Insurance Number to run a screening?
No. Quebec's Law 25 prohibits requiring a Social Insurance Number as a condition of a rental application, and it also requires the applicant's express consent before you run a credit or background check. Our flow already collects that consent directly from your applicant, so you never need to ask for a SIN yourself.
Do I need to offer the lease in French?
Documents registered on title, like a deed or a notice of lease registered against the property, must be in French under Bill 96. An ordinary residential lease itself isn't required to be French-only and can be bilingual. What you can't do is discriminate against an applicant for speaking English; that's prohibited under the Quebec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms.
What's the difference between the screening packages?
Essential ($19.99) includes ID verification and full credit history. Complete ($29.99) adds adverse media and global watchlist screening. Priority Complete ($38.99) includes every check plus direct access to our in-house support team.
Do I need an account or subscription?
No. Screening here is pay-per-report, built for one-off checks. You only pay when you run one, with no subscription and no monthly fees. If you manage a portfolio, a Great Renter account gets you volume pricing and a dashboard.