Summary#
Bill 20 aims to improve access to affordable or low-rent housing in Quebec. It notably creates a centralized application portal for rental requests and establishes new rules for the allocation of certain housing.
The main measures are as follows:
- Creation of an application portal for affordable or low-rent housing.
- Establishment of eligibility lists and matching rules between tenants and available housing.
- The possibility to contest before the Administrative Housing Tribunal a mismanagement of an application or an allocation deemed unfair.
- New rules for tenants of affordable housing, including the provision of information on income and household composition.
- The possibility for the Quebec Housing Corporation to require compensation when a household is no longer eligible, under certain conditions.
- Prohibition of subletting affordable housing.
- Increased protection for tenants of low-rent housing during a rent modification. The Quebec Housing Corporation could act to have the rent set.
- Adjustments to the rules regarding housing for students, including proof of enrollment and full-time student status.
- Changes to the rules on the maintenance log and the contingency fund of condominiums. Part of the fund could be invested long-term while maintaining a portion liquid and quickly available.
- New powers for the Quebec Housing Corporation and housing offices, including administering certain buildings and conducting pilot projects.
- Changes to the operation of the Administrative Housing Tribunal, including mandatory conciliation in certain cases and measures against abusive procedures.
- The possibility of selling certain surplus state properties for housing purposes.
Several important details, including income thresholds, housing categories, and portal procedures, must be established by regulation.
What This Means for You#
- People looking for affordable or low-rent housing: you may need to submit an application to the designated portal and be placed on one or more eligibility lists.
- Tenants of affordable housing: you will need to regularly provide information on your income and household composition. If your income exceeds the established threshold, compensation may be required starting from the lease renewal.
- Tenants who are no longer eligible: you may leave the housing with three months' notice. You may also contest a compensation before the Administrative Housing Tribunal.
- Tenants of low-rent housing: the Quebec Housing Corporation could act directly to request the setting of the rent after a modification notice.
- Students: some must provide proof of enrollment and full-time student status. A lease could be terminated if this proof is not provided or if the person stops studying full-time.
- Owners of housing covered by the portal: they may need to comply and allocate housing according to the established rules.
- Owners of properties recognized for student housing: specific rules would apply in the event of loss of recognition or sale of the property.
- Condominium owners: the rules on building maintenance and management of the contingency fund would be specified.
- People before the Administrative Housing Tribunal: a conciliation session could be imposed. The Tribunal could also limit certain actions when a party is abusing the procedures.
Costs#
No publicly available information.
The bill does not specify, in the provided text, the administrative costs of the portal, the resources needed for its implementation, or the amounts that would be allocated to pilot projects or property management.
For tenants, compensation could increase the amount paid when the household exceeds the income threshold established by regulation. The exact amount and calculation rules are not yet indicated.
Supporters' Viewpoint#
Supporters might argue that the bill:
- simplifies the process of finding affordable or low-rent housing;
- makes the allocation of housing more uniform and transparent;
- offers recourse to individuals who believe they have been unfairly excluded;
- better protects tenants against certain errors in rent setting;
- allows the Quebec Housing Corporation and housing offices to utilize more properties to meet needs;
- facilitates the creation of pilot projects in housing;
- helps prevent procedural abuses at the Administrative Housing Tribunal;
- improves the planning of condominium maintenance and management of their contingency fund.
Opponents' Viewpoint#
Opponents might fear that:
- the centralized portal creates new processes and delays for applicants;
- important rules are left to regulations, without being known at the time of the law's adoption;
- compensations imposed on households that have become ineligible lead to significant rent increases or loss of housing;
- the prohibition of subletting reduces tenants' flexibility;
- the proof requirements imposed on students make their residential situation more precarious;
- mandatory conciliation or limits imposed on procedures reduce access to a full hearing in certain cases;
- the long-term investment of part of the contingency fund increases financial risks for condominium owners;
- the new powers of the Quebec Housing Corporation are exercised without sufficient oversight or consultation.