Home / Blog / The Quebec Lease Agreement: An Essential Guide for Landlords

July 2025

Drafting a lease agreement in Quebec is a crucial step for successful rental management. This legal document, governed by the Tribunal administratif du logement (TAL), protects both your interests and those of your tenants by setting clear ground rules. It helps prevent misunderstandings in a diverse market like Montreal. 

In this guide, we'll cover the key concepts every landlord needs to know before drafting or renewing a lease. 

A lease is more than just a piece of paper. It's a legal contract that binds the tenant and the landlord for a specific duration. In Quebec, it is governed by the Civil Code of Quebec (CCQ-1991), which ensures a fair and equitable framework. Clauses in a lease cannot contradict this code, or they will be considered null and void by the TAL (tal.gouv.qc.ca/en).

The lease agreement protects both parties:

• The tenant, who benefits from a safe dwelling and clear rights.
• The landlord, who secures their rental income and establishes rules for the use of their property.

The official TAL lease form is designed to include all the legally required elements: identification of the parties, a description of the dwelling, the rent, the lease term, and the included services. It serves as a reference document in case of a dispute, making its use essential for healthy and stress-free rental management.

To give you an idea, here is the official lease model found on the Légis Québec website: Mandatory TAL Form - Residential Lease.

These clauses are an integral part of the standard lease form and cannot be modified or removed. They are the backbone of the lease, ensuring the contract is fair and respects the law. As a landlord, you don't have to write them, but you must understand them to know exactly what you're committing to and to properly inform your tenants of their rights and obligations.

Here is a table that simplifies and highlights the most relevant and useful information for a landlord, according to Bénoline.

The official TAL lease form is structured in several sections, each playing a specific role in defining the rental conditions. In this article, we'll group them into three main themes to help you understand the key points. We will provide a complete, step-by-step guide to filling out the form in our next article.

A lease always begins with the identification of the parties:

• The full name and contact information of the landlord (or their legal representative).
• The name and contact information of every adult tenant who will occupy the dwelling.
• The signature of the adult tenants.

A lease must precisely describe the rented dwelling.

• Full address of the dwelling.
• Description (number of rooms, floor, and square footage if known).
• Dependencies (balcony, yard, shed, storage, etc.).
• Parking (indoor or outdoor, included or not).
• Furniture and appliances provided (refrigerator, stove, bed, table, washer/dryer, microwave, etc.).
• Services included in the rent: heating, hot water, electricity, internet, cable, etc.

💡 Example: A lease can specify that the dwelling includes outdoor parking and a refrigerator, but not electricity or internet.

👉 Important:

• Some items are considered essential (refrigerator, stove, and sometimes a bed and table in a furnished dwelling). The landlord must maintain and replace them in case of normal wear and tear.
• Other items are considered accessories (microwave, TV, dishwasher, washer/dryer). You can specify that they are provided without a replacement guarantee.
• An annex may be relevant in these situations—see further down in the article.

The section on price and conditions is at the heart of the lease. It must be clear and unambiguous.

• Rent amount (in numbers and letters).
• Payment date (e.g., the 1st of each month).
• Payment location and method (e.g., electronic transfer, check, direct deposit).
• Previous rent paid (a legal obligation in Quebec: you must indicate the rent paid by the previous tenant).
• Lease term (often 12 months, but can be shorter).

A lease alone isn't always enough to specify everything. This is why it can be supplemented by:

• Additional conditions (e.g., no smoking, presence of pets, yard maintenance).
• Annexes: These can add specific clauses (inventory of furniture, parking usage terms, authorization for work, etc.).
• A building bylaw: A true "code of conduct" for the building. It includes cohabitation rules (waste management, noise, use of common areas).

⚠️ Warning: These documents only have legal value if they are annexed to the lease and signed by the tenant.

An annex is a document attached to the lease to add specific clauses. It's an essential tool for personalizing your rental contract and making it more precise than the standard form. Here's what you can include:

A building bylaw is often confused with annexes, but it has a different function. While the lease is the contract, the bylaw is the "code of conduct" for your property. It defines the rules of behavior and cohabitation for all occupants.

Good rental management is not improvised. It relies on clear, precise, and legally compliant documents. A well-completed lease, supplemented by relevant annexes and a detailed building bylaw, are your best allies for preventing disputes and ensuring a healthy and stress-free relationship with your tenants.

In our next article, we will guide you step by step to fill out the official TAL lease form and create the necessary annexes for a solid contract: “Step-by-Step Guide to Filling Out a Residential Lease in Quebec“.

• Always use the official TAL form to avoid invalid clauses.
• Keep written proof of all important communications with your tenants.
• Systematically annex a photo inventory for a furnished dwelling.
• Clearly indicate services included in the rent to avoid any ambiguity.
• A building bylaw is your best ally for managing cohabitation.

Lease forms are available for purchase at TAL offices (tal.gouv.qc.ca/en/info-offices) and in bookstores. You can also generate your leases online with bailelectronique.com, which is affiliated with the Corpiq (corpiq.com/en), a reputable non-profit organization that supports landlords.

1. Can a lease be verbal? Yes, but it is strongly discouraged. 

The official written TAL form is mandatory for residential leases.

2. Can I ask for two months' rent in advance? 

No. The Civil Code of Quebec prohibits it.

3. Who pays for repairs to a provided appliance? 

If it's an essential item (refrigerator, stove), the landlord must cover the repairs.

4. Can I prohibit pets in the lease? 

Yes, but only if the clause is clearly written in the lease or a signed annex.