Over the past 12 years, requests for housing repossession before the Tribunal administratif du logement have risen threefold, a new report by Quebec tenant organisations shows. The analysis, compiled by the Regroupement des comités logement et associations de locataires du Québec (RCLALQ) together with other intervenants, highlights a sharp increase in cases brought before the administrative housing tribunal across the province.
The report indicates that tenants are encountering growing difficulty in defending against eviction proceedings. Stakeholders involved in the housing sector point to the surge in repossession requests as evidence that existing protections may be insufficient. As a result, tenant groups are urging the introduction of rent controls designed to secure the right to housing and to curb the accelerating pace of evictions.
The Tribunal administratif du logement, which adjudicates disputes between landlords and renters, has seen its caseload swell as the number of repossession applications triples compared with figures from a decade ago. While the tribunal continues to process each case, the volume increase has raised concerns among advocacy organisations about the capacity of the system to provide timely resolutions.
RCLALQ and other tenant associations argue that the trend fuels a broader debate over rent regulation in Quebec. They contend that without stronger rent control measures, tenants will face heightened risk of losing their homes, especially in markets where housing affordability is already strained. The report calls for policymakers to consider regulatory options that could stabilize rents and reinforce tenants' legal standing.
The findings arrive as provincial officials weigh potential reforms to the rental market. The surge in repossession requests, documented over a 12‑year period, underscores the urgency of addressing housing stability in Quebec, according to the tenant groups that compiled the data.