Maintenance · Urgent repairs
A burst pipe on a Friday night, no heat in January. If the landlord fails to act, the tenant may incur the expense themselves.
The rule
The Tribunal puts it simply: if the landlord fails to do so, the tenant may undertake a repair or incur an urgent and necessary expense.
The examples the Tribunal gives
- A serious leak in the plumbing or the roof
- A fault in the electrical installations
- A blocked sewer pipe
- A rotten stair or balcony board giving way
- A heating failure during winter
- A defective lock
What it means for you
An unreachable landlord does not make the problem disappear; they simply lose control of the contractor and the amount. Responding fast is the only way to keep a grip on the expense, which is why reachability matters so much for an owner who does not live in the building.
Unsanitary conditions
The Tribunal treats unsanitary conditions separately: mould or fungus, vermin such as cockroaches, bed bugs or ants, rodents. Situations that make a dwelling unfit for habitation. These are heavier files, and they hit a building's value directly.
Where this actually bites
These rules are not administrative theory. They set a building's price and a buyer's calendar. A plex where repossession is still possible within the deadline is not worth the same as one where the window has closed. A building held by very long-term tenants carries a far heavier potential eviction indemnity than one with quick turnover. A renovation planned without evacuation notices loses months before the first swing of a hammer.
That is why reading the leases comes first in our work on a rental building, before the showing and before going to market. The Tribunal's figures are public and verifiable; what varies from one file to the next is the real situation of each unit. An honest valuation starts there.
Three checks before signing anything
- The end date of every lease, which drives all the notice periods and has nothing to do with your closing date.
- How long each tenant has been in place, which directly changes any eviction indemnity.
- Whether advertised rents match the actual leases, the most common price adjustment in a rental building transaction.
Related
Frequently asked
Can a tenant repair without telling me?
The rule covers cases where the landlord fails to act on an urgent and necessary repair. Staying reachable is your best protection.
What counts as urgent?
The Tribunal cites serious leaks, electrical faults, blocked sewer pipes, rotten stairs or balcony boards, winter heating failures, defective locks.
Is that the same as unsanitary conditions?
No. Unsanitary conditions are treated separately: mould, fungus, vermin, rodents.
Rules cited from the Tribunal administratif du logement (tal.gouv.qc.ca), consulted 10 September 2026. This page informs; it is not legal advice. For your situation, contact the Tribunal.
Published by the Loaa & Manseur team, number one team at RE/MAX Platine in 2024 and 2025. Buying and selling rental buildings across Greater Montreal. Tell us about your project.