I'm moving abroad: how do I rent out my place in Québec without being there?

Do you own the place? This page is for you. If you are a tenant, see assignment of a lease or subleasing on the TAL's website.

The Tribunal administratif du logement (TAL) writes: "It is possible to sign a lease without meeting in person." An owner can sign remotely, on the mandatory form (art. 1895, Civil Code of Québec). The Code gives every lessee "a personal right to maintain occupancy" (art. 1936), and a fixed-term lease is renewed by operation of law (art. 1941). Repossession to live there needs a notice at least six months before the end of a lease of more than six months (arts. 1957 and 1960); it has limits and, without the lessee's agreement, goes through the Tribunal (arts. 1962-1964). For tax, consult the Canada Revenue Agency or an accountant.

In what order should things happen before you leave?

One workable order follows the lease itself: know what your situation allows, receive applications, sign, then plan for the absence and the return. Each step has its own section below.

1. Owner or tenant? The rules are not the same.
2. In a condo: read the declaration; the by-laws can be set up against the tenant once the tenant is given a copy (art. 1057); notify the syndicate within 15 days (art. 1065).
3. The listing and the applications: for example, one link per address in your online listings.
4. What you may ask an applicant, according to the TAL.
5. Choosing, without a ground the Charter prohibits.
6. The lease, signed remotely, on the mandatory form.
7. A person in Québec for access to the dwelling and urgent repairs.
8. Coming back: what the Civil Code provides for repossession.
9. Tax: a pointer to the Canada Revenue Agency.

Do you own the place, or are you a tenant?

This page is for an owner renting out a place they own. A tenant who leaves falls under other rules, which the TAL describes in its section on assignment of a lease and subleasing.

The TAL writes there: "The lessee may sublet the dwelling, in whole or in part, or assign the lease. The lessee must then notify the lessor of that intention in writing." (TAL, "Assignment of a lease or subleasing", consulted 2026-10-04)

In a condo, what does the Civil Code provide before you rent it out?

A co-owner who leases their private portion notifies the syndicate within 15 days, giving the name of the lessee, the term of the lease and the date the lessee was given a copy of the by-laws of the immovable (art. 1065 C.C.Q.). The by-laws can be set up against the lessee once the lessee is given a copy (art. 1057).

• The declaration of co-ownership. The Civil Code says: "No declaration of co-ownership may impose any restriction on the rights of the co-owners except restrictions justified by the destination, characteristics or location of the immovable" (art. 1056). Read yours before you list; for what it allows in your case, a notary or a lawyer.
• The lease. The TAL writes that the mandatory lease form "must be used for any new residential lease whether it is a room, an apartment, a condominium, a house, etc." (TAL, "What is a lease?", consulted 2026-10-04)
• Insurance. Ask your insurer before you sign.

How do you receive applications without being there?

One way to do it from afar: one link per address in your online listings. Each applicant sends the documents they choose, and everything arrives in one place, in order of receipt.

The link is an option: an applicant can apply another way. For visits, see the person in Québec below.

What can you ask an applicant for?

The TAL publishes, based on the Commission d'accès à l'information, what a lessor may ask for, and what the evaluation of a rental application does not need. One sentence from its page "Leases and protection of personal information" (consulted 2026-10-04):

• "The lessor may ask for the prospective lessee’s full name and complete current address."

How do you choose among the applications?

The choice is made without any ground the Charter of human rights and freedoms prohibits. Québec's human rights commission (CDPDJ) writes: "The Charter prohibits discrimination in housing and imposes legal obligations on landlords." (CDPDJ, "Rent without discrimination", consulted 2026-10-04)

The Civil Code also has a rule on pregnancy, children and the exercise of a right (art. 1899, quoted below).

Can the lease be signed remotely?

According to the TAL, yes: by electronic signature on the government platform, or by email. The TAL writes: "It is possible to sign a lease without meeting in person." The lease is made on the mandatory form, and the lessor gives the lessee a copy within 10 days after entering into it (art. 1895 C.C.Q.).

• The electronic lease. The TAL's page "Official Electronic Lease" (consulted 2026-10-04) writes: "The lease can be signed remotely using an electronic signature system. To do so, a valid email address must be provided for each party to the lease." Its price is on the TAL's website.
• The forms changed in 2026. Same page: "On January 1, 2026, changes to lease forms came into effect. Forms that were on sale before this date remain valid until December 31, 2026."
• By email, according to the TAL (page "Signing a lease without meeting in person"):
  1. The lessor completes the lease, scans it and emails it to the lessee.
  2. The lessee prints it, signs it, scans it and returns it to the lessor.
  3. The lessor does the same and returns the signed lease to the lessee.

  If the lessee cannot scan, the TAL describes another way: an email reply in which the lessee agrees to the terms of the attached lease. The TAL adds: "These procedures have the same legal value as a printed contract with handwritten signatures." It also says to keep the emails as proof.

• The form. The TAL writes, on its page "What is a lease?": "The lease form of the Tribunal administratif du logement is mandatory since September 1, 1996."

Who handles access to the dwelling and urgent repairs while you are away?

Plan for a person in Québec who can open the door and call in a tradesperson. The Civil Code and the TAL set rules for access to the dwelling; article 1932 and the TAL's page speak of the lessor being present.

Both articles and the TAL's sentences are quoted below. The TAL speaks of "you or your representative" in the "Dwelling for rent" section of its page "Access to the dwelling and visiting rights", which covers showing the dwelling once the lessee has given notice. Article 1932 itself says "if the lessor is unable to be present". This page does not decide who can fill that role in your case: the TAL or a lawyer.

Will you be able to take the place back when you return?

The Civil Code provides that an owner may repossess the dwelling as a residence for themselves (art. 1957), with a notice at least six months before the expiry of a fixed-term lease of more than six months (art. 1960). If the lessee does not agree, repossession needs the Tribunal's authorization (art. 1963). The Code also provides the lessee's right to maintain occupancy (art. 1936) and the renewal by operation of law of a fixed-term lease (art. 1941).

• The TAL writes: "Under Québec law, a lessee can stay in their dwelling for as long as they wish, provided that they comply with all the conditions of their lease."
• And: "Once the lessee receives the notice of repossession, they have one month to respond."
• The Code also provides what happens if the lessee does not respond (arts. 1962 and 1963, quoted below), and the TAL describes it on the same page (quoted below).
• The TAL also writes: "If the Tribunal authorizes the repossession of the dwelling, it may impose any conditions it considers just and reasonable, including payment of compensation equivalent to the lessee’s moving expenses." (TAL, "Repossessing a dwelling", consulted 2026-10-04)
• The Code sets other limits on repossession. They are quoted in full in Renting while you're away, then coming back. This page does not say whether repossession applies to your situation.

What about tax on the rent?

This page gives no rate and does not decide your tax residency status: that is a question for the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) or an accountant.

The CRA publishes two guides on the tax of non-residents: T4144 and T4061 (pages consulted 2026-10-04).

What the law says

Civil Code of Québec

LégisQuébec, C.C.Q., text up to date to 12 August 2026, consulted 2026-10-04.

Art. 1056 (#se:1056)

No declaration of co-ownership may impose any restriction on the rights of the co-owners except restrictions justified by the destination, characteristics or location of the immovable.

Art. 1057 (#se:1057)

The by-laws of the immovable may be set up against the lessee or occupant of a private portion upon his being given a copy of the by-laws or the amendments to them by the co-owner or, if not by him, by the syndicate.

Art. 1065 (#se:1065)

A person who acquires a fraction, by whatever means, including the exercise of a hypothecary right, shall notify the syndicate within 15 days.

A co-owner who leases his private portion shall, within the same time, notify the syndicate. The co-owner shall give the name of the lessee, the term of the lease and the date on which he gave the lessee a copy of the by-laws of the immovable. The same applies, with the necessary modifications, where the private portion is otherwise occupied.

Art. 1895 (#se:1895)

Within 10 days after entering into the lease, the lessor is bound to give the lessee a copy of the lease or, in the case of an oral lease, a writing setting forth the name and address of the lessor, the name of the lessee, the rent and the address of the leased property, and containing the text of the particulars prescribed by the regulations of the Government. The writing forms part of the lease. The lease or writing shall be made on the form the use of which is made mandatory by the regulations of the Government.

Where the lease is renewed and the parties agree to modify it, the lessor is bound to give a writing evidencing the modifications to the initial lease to the lessee before the beginning of the renewal.

However, the lessee may not apply for resiliation of the lease on the ground that the lessor has failed to comply with those requirements.

Art. 1899 (#se:1899)

A lessor may not refuse to enter into a lease with a person or to maintain the person in his or her rights, or impose more onerous conditions on the person for the sole reason that the person is pregnant or has one or several children, unless the refusal is warranted by the size of the dwelling; nor can he so act for the sole reason that the person has exercised his or her rights under this chapter or the Act respecting the Administrative Housing Tribunal (chapter T-15.01).

Punitive damages may be awarded in cases where this provision is violated.

Art. 1931 (#se:1931)

The lessor is bound, except in case of emergency, to give the lessee a prior notice of 24 hours of his intention to ascertain the condition of the dwelling, to carry out work in the dwelling or to have it visited by a prospective acquirer.

Art. 1932 (#se:1932)

The lessee may, except in case of emergency, refuse to allow the dwelling to be visited by a prospective lessee or acquirer before 9 a.m. or after 9 p.m.; the same rule applies where the lessor wishes to ascertain the condition of the dwelling.

The lessee may, in all cases, refuse to allow the dwelling to be visited if the lessor is unable to be present.

Art. 1936 (#se:1936)

Every lessee has a personal right to maintain occupancy; he may not be evicted from the leased dwelling, except in the cases provided for by law.

Art. 1941 (#se:1941)

A lessee entitled to maintain occupancy and having a lease with a fixed term is entitled by operation of law to its renewal at term.

The lease is renewed at term on the same conditions and for the same term or, if the term of the initial lease exceeds 12 months, for a term of 12 months. The parties may, however, agree on a different renewal term.

Art. 1957 (#se:1957)

The lessor of a dwelling who is the owner of the dwelling may repossess it as a residence for himself or herself or for ascendants or descendants in the first degree or for any other relative or person connected by marriage or a civil union of whom the lessor is the main support.

The lessor may also repossess the dwelling as a residence for a spouse of whom the lessor remains the main support after a separation from bed and board or divorce or the dissolution of a civil union.

Art. 1960 (#se:1960)

A lessor wishing to repossess a dwelling or to evict a lessee shall notify him at least six months before the expiry of the lease in the case of a lease with a fixed term; if the term of the lease is six months or less, the notice is of one month.

In the case of a lease with an indeterminate term, the notice shall be given six months before the date of repossession or eviction.

Art. 1962 (#se:1962)

Within one month after receiving a notice of repossession or of eviction, the lessee is bound to notify the lessor as to whether or not he intends to comply with the notice; otherwise, he is deemed to have refused to vacate the dwelling.

Art. 1963 (#se:1963)

If the lessee refuses to vacate the dwelling, the lessor may nevertheless repossess it or evict the lessee with the authorization of the court.

The application for authorization must be made within one month after the refusal by the lessee; the lessor shall show the court that he truly intends to repossess the dwelling or evict the lessee for the purpose mentioned in the notice and not as a pretext for other purposes and, in the case of an eviction, that the subdivision, enlargement or change of destination of the dwelling is permitted by law.

Art. 1964 (#se:1964)

The lessor may not, without the consent of the lessee, avail himself of the right to repossess the dwelling where he owns another dwelling that is vacant or offered for rent on the date fixed for repossession, and that is of the same type as that occupied by the lessee, situated in the same neighbourhood and at equivalent rent.

Tribunal administratif du logement — "Signing a lease without meeting in person"

tal.gouv.qc.ca/en/signing-a-lease/signing-a-lease-without-meeting-in-person, consulted 2026-10-04. This page and "What is a lease?" open with a banner: "On January 1, 2026, significant regulatory changes came into effect. The English content of this page will be updated shortly." Until then, see the French page, « Conclure un bail sans se rencontrer », which carries no such banner.

It is possible to sign a lease without meeting in person.

These procedures have the same legal value as a printed contract with handwritten signatures.

Tribunal administratif du logement — "Official Electronic Lease"

tal.gouv.qc.ca/en/electronic-lease, consulted 2026-10-04 (no banner):

The lease can be signed remotely using an electronic signature system. To do so, a valid email address must be provided for each party to the lease.

On January 1, 2026, changes to lease forms came into effect. Forms that were on sale before this date remain valid until December 31, 2026.

Tribunal administratif du logement — "Access to the dwelling and visiting rights"

tal.gouv.qc.ca/en/the-dwelling/access-to-the-dwelling-and-visiting-rights, consulted 2026-10-04.

"Dwelling for rent" section:

As soon as you have received your lessee’s notice, you can post a “for rent” sign and you have the right to arrange visits to the dwelling.

Visits must take place between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. The lessee may require you or your representative to be present and can refuse access to the dwelling if this is not the case.

"During the term of the lease" section:

If the dwelling is a condo, the notice can be given by the syndicate. However, if urgent repairs are required (e.g., a major plumbing leak or sparks in the electrical panel), you may have them done immediately without having to notify the lessee.

Tribunal administratif du logement — "Repossessing a dwelling"

tal.gouv.qc.ca/en/lessor-s-right-to-terminate-a-lease/repossessing-a-dwelling, consulted 2026-10-04, "Lessee’s response" section:

If the lessee does not respond to the lessor’s notice of repossession within one month, they are presumed to have refused to vacate the dwelling, at which point the lessor can apply to the Tribunal for authorization to repossess the dwelling.

Other pages quoted above (consulted 2026-10-04)

• TAL, "What is a lease?"
• TAL, "Leases and protection of personal information"
• TAL, "Assignment of a lease or subleasing"
• CDPDJ, "Rent without discrimination"
• CRA, T4144 and T4061