The Association of Québec Landlords (APQ) notes with regret that the rental property owners are, once again, the big forgotten ones of Mr. Leitao’s budget.

“After LogiRenov, it is now Renovert that is offered to homeowners. But make no mistake! Not to all owners! If you have a dwelling and you want to renovate to improve the housing conditions, you will receive nothing!” says Martin Messier, President of the APQ.

Also, 1200 supplementary new rental units will be granted in 2016-2017 at a cost of $5 million.

The Association of Quebec Landlords welcomes Mr Martin Coiteux in the world of rental law.

The Association of Quebec Landlords (APQ) hopes that Mr Coiteux will undertake genuine reforms that will facilitate access to the Rental Board, decrease the waiting time and especially protect rental housing owners.

Let us remind that Mr Pierre Moreau, former minister of municipal affairs, has, as head of the Rental Board, appointed four special clerks to hear requests for recovery of rent and lease termination that are not challenged by the tenants in Montreal, Laval and Longueuil.

The Association of Quebec Landlords (APQ) can only be offended by the lack of courage of various governments which for the last 35 years have obstinately refused to reform the method of calculation of the Régie du logement.

This year more than at any other time, the tenants’ perception facing rent increases will be distorted.

The Québec Landlords' Association (APQ) is pleased with the direction taken by Québec Bill 67, Loi visant principalement à améliorer l'encadrement de l'hébergement touristique.

The APQ considers that this draft bill should also provide for the landlord's approval as part of the certification process, as well as being validated by municipal authorities.

According to this draft legislation, anyone who wishes to offer lodging to tourists, must obtain a classification certificate from Québec Ministry of Tourism. A Ministry inspector will be required to visit the premises as part of the request process. However, the lodging offered may be located in a residential rental building, and landlords should be able to have their say in the process.

The Association of Quebec Landlords (APQ) notes, while reading the annual report of the Régie du logement for the fiscal year 2014-2015, that rental housing owners are still seeing their investment and their time reduced by delays of almost two years.

"The delay for a common cause, such as - for instance - a disordered peaceful enjoyment of the premises, takes an average of 20.3 months before being heard. And this is only the first hearing date. One does not speak yet of possible postponements and the reception of the decision," says the APQ.

Although a slight decrease of 6.3% of cases of non-payment of rent is reported, 40,905 files were submitted in 2014-2015, more than half of the total number of files, i.e. 69,821.

The Association of Quebec Landlords (APQ) read the report of the Ombudswoman for the year 2014-2015 and notes that the Ombudswoman is dissatisfied with the delays at the Régie du logement, a problem that re-appears, unfortunately, every year in her report.

The Régie du logement would have received 180 complaints in 2014-2015. The ombudswoman, in her report, indicates her dissatisfaction with the time delay given to her recommendations because the problem concerning waiting times at a hearing before the Régie persists.

The Association of Quebec Landlords (APQ) reminds you that the tenant who has notified his departure must move out on the last day of his lease, i.e. on June 30th for all leases ending on the 30^th of June.

“There are only a few days left for rental property owners before the big moving day. One last tip: go see your tenants, if it is not already done, and ask them about the time of their moving to their new place. You can be sure that your tenants prepare their moving well,” says the APQ.

One of the worst situations that can happen on the 1st of July, or at any end date of the lease, is that the tenant decides to stay in the dwelling. Your former tenant, “theoretically”, does not want to leave anymore and your new tenant is at the front door. If you are unable to make him understand reason, you will need to open a file at the Régie du logement for “Eviction of an occupant without right.” This request is given priority.

The APQ will be present daily on www.apq.org/radio starting on June 25^th to July 1^st inclusively from 12:00 p.m. to 12:30 p.m.

All rental apartments landlords can tune in to the broadcast live and even participate by sending their questions to our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/apquebec, on our Twitter: http://twitter.com/apquebec, or by e-mail to info@apq.org so that an answer can be provided during the broadcast.

Montreal, April 8, 2015 --- The Association of Quebec Landlords (APQ) would like to caution the owners of Quebec rental housing that without a monetary protection, as in all other provinces and other countries, the only way to protect oneself against a ransacking tenant is to do a complete pre-rental survey.

“Unfortunately the Government does not yet intend this year to allow owners to protect their investment by legislating a security deposit! Every year we see horror cases, abandoned animals, ransacked dwellings, and are the guilty punished?” says Martin Messier, President of the APQ.

The Association of Québec Landlords (APQ) saw some open-mindedness from the Couillard Government with, for instance, a change in October 2014 in cases of non-payment of rent, but also contempt for them with the imposition of licensing fees for using an electronic lease or the maintenance of the G-clause in the new mandatory lease form.

It is on the eve of the unveiling of the 2015-2016 budget that the APQ still hopes that the Government will open its eyes to the growing problems associated with the aging rental stock and its adverse actions by still granting new AccèsLogis projects.