According to a statement from the Association of Quebec Landlords (APQ), a new regulation regarding mandatory lease agreements will go into effect on February 24.
The new lease form will include standard language regarding joint and several liability — a rule that provides all tenancies or any one tenant is liable for the full lease amount. Prior to the change, a landlord would need to add such language to the lease agreement, according to the APQ.
An additional change is the inclusion of space for e-mail addresses so parties can better communicate.
APQ was instrumental in the adoption of these changes. While these additions provide important protections for landlords, the Association’s President Martin Messier says more work needs to be done.
In particular, Messier wants to see regulations which limit rents abolished altogether, allowing market control once a tenant leaves. “It is simply outrageous to see that the Government maintains its position on control of the rental price of a dwelling even when the tenant has put an end to the lease,” concludes Messier.
Other changes that the APQ would like to see to the mandatory lease form include a smoking ban, the right to terminate a lease that the tenant wants to assign, and a provision within the lease that the landlord can maintain the deposit or surety throughout any renewal periods.
Also, the APQ would like to see the lease printed on letter-size rather than legal, with more space for additional provisions. The group is also pushing for the Régie du logement to make the lease available for free on its website.
The APQ vows it will continue to fight for changes, particularly with respect to the deposits and comprehensive reform of laws and regulations affecting residential renting.
The Association of Quebec Landlords has been serving the rental property owners for over 30 years. By supporting local landlord associations, private landlords can find strength in numbers, achieving goals that are not easily attainable individually.
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).
Click Here to Receive Landlord Credit Reports.
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.
