Quebec tenants are facing another rent increase in 2026. The Housing Administrative Tribunal (Tribunal administratif du logement, TAL) has proposed an estimated increase of 3.1% — according to a new calculation method presented earlier this week.
According to the Quebec Association of Housing Committees and Tenant Associations (RCLALQ), this is one of the highest figures in the last twenty years — except for 2024 (4%) and 2025 (5.9%). For the first time, the rate is calculated based on the average consumer price index over the last three years, which, according to authorities, makes the forecast more stable and predictable.
However, as tenant rights advocates emphasize, 3.1% is just a “minimum threshold.” Property owners will be able to justify a more significant increase, considering repair costs, rising municipal taxes, and insurance premiums.
In Montreal, where the average rent for a two-bedroom apartment is $1,346 per month, such an increase means an addition of about $42 — bringing it to $1,388. Annually, this translates to over $500 in additional expenses for a family. In Quebec City, a similar apartment will increase by about $40 per month.
Particular concern arises regarding the situation in residences for the elderly: the portion of rent related to services may rise by 6.7%, depending on the volume of services provided.
Tenant organizations are once again raising the issue of the need for strict regulation and the creation of a rent registry. They point to the experience in Ontario, where the increase in housing costs is capped at 2.1% in 2026 and has not exceeded 2.5% for more than ten years.
At the same time, the property owners’ association CORPIQ welcomes the new formula. According to them, the simplified calculation system — now only four key factors are considered instead of twelve — will help reduce the number of disputes and legal proceedings.
Nevertheless, for thousands of Quebec families, the upcoming rent increase will be yet another challenge in the context of high inflation and a severe housing crisis. The issue of housing affordability is once again coming to the forefront of public discussion.
