Quebec’s condominium rental market is experiencing a real boom. According to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), at the end of 2025, 21.9% of condominiums in the Montreal metropolitan region were being rented out. In Gatineau, this figure reached 27.4%, and in Quebec City—15.5%. Province-wide, according to estimates by the Quebec Real Estate Owners Association (CORPIQ), out of roughly 400,000 existing units, about 85,000—around 21%—are rented out.
However, renting a condo is not at all the same as renting a regular apartment. The declaration of co-ownership, legal obligations to the syndicate of co-owners, insurance requirements—all of this makes the process noticeably more complex for both the owner and the tenant.
“The condo owner must take the time to explain the building rules to the tenant. If the tenant causes inconvenience to other residents, the syndicate has the right to demand termination of the lease.”
— Yves Joli-Cœur, lawyer, Dunton Rainville
THE CO-LIVING CODE: SPECIAL RULES FOR CONDOS
Unlike ordinary rental buildings, condominiums are managed on the basis of a declaration of co-ownership—a document that sets out the rules of collective living. A barbecue on the balcony, pets, the number of occupants in a unit, use of parking, access to the gym or pool, noise fines, a ban on leaving shoes in the hallway—nothing is left to the parties’ discretion.
The Civil Code of Québec is unequivocal: the syndicate of co-owners or the owner must provide the tenant with a copy of these rules at the time the lease is signed.
LEGAL OBLIGATIONS: WHAT THE OWNER CANNOT IGNORE
In addition to the internal by-laws, an owner renting out a condo has specific obligations to the syndicate. They must notify it that the unit is being rented, provide the tenant’s contact details—with a copy of an identity document—and supply a copy of the lease.
Some owners neglect this requirement. This is a mistake with potentially serious consequences: in an emergency, the lack of information about occupants jeopardizes the safety of the entire building and, ultimately, the value of the property itself.
INSURANCE AND ABILITY TO PAY: DON’T RUSH TO CONCLUSIONS
The law does not require a tenant to obtain renters’ insurance—neither in a condo nor in a regular apartment. However, the owner must notify their insurer that the unit is now occupied by a third party. The insurance premium may increase, and the insurer may require the tenant to have their own policy with extended civil liability coverage.
Before signing any documents, a credit check is necessary—$15 to $50 depending on the service, via Equifax or TransUnion. A credit score above 650 points generally indicates that the prospective tenant meets their obligations. It is also recommended to check case history at the Administrative Housing Tribunal and criminal records through SOQIJ.
SHORT-TERM RENTALS: A GREY AREA WITH CLEAR BOUNDARIES
A condominium cannot prohibit long-term rentals. Short-term rentals, however, it can—and precisely in the interests of permanent residents.
One case clearly shows how seriously these rules are taken: in 2018, actress Jennifer Lawrence, who came to Montreal to film the next installment of The Hunger Games, was served with a court injunction by a bailiff—precisely because she was renting a luxury condo in a building where such rentals were explicitly prohibited by the by-laws.
In addition, municipal zoning rules vary significantly by neighborhood. A number of cities explicitly prohibit Airbnb-style rentals. Those who still choose this route must comply not only with the rules of the specific building, but also with applicable tax and tourism requirements.
