Quebec announced on June 30, 2026 that close to 100,000 residential properties across the province are classified as vacant. The figure, released by provincial authorities, reflects the total number of homes that are not occupied or being rented at the time of reporting.
The scale of the vacancy count is notable because it mirrors the entire household population of the city of Sherbrooke. In other words, the number of empty dwellings in Quebec is roughly equivalent to the total homes that people actually live in within that mid‑size city.
Officials did not provide a breakdown of where the vacant units are concentrated, but the province-wide total underscores a broader pattern of unused housing stock. The data arrives amid ongoing discussions about housing availability and affordability in Quebec, highlighting a paradox where a large inventory of empty homes exists alongside demand for affordable rental and purchase options.
While the report does not indicate the reasons behind the high vacancy rate, it suggests that a substantial portion of the province’s housing capacity remains untapped. Policymakers may need to consider strategies to bring these properties back into active use, whether through incentives for owners, regulatory adjustments, or programs aimed at matching vacant units with prospective residents.