Abusive evictions: landlords call for targeted penalties

On November 12, 2026, during the IMMO 2026 trade show, tenant advocacy groups held an action to denounce certain landlord practices. The Quebec landlords' association CORPIQ (Corporation des propriétaires immobiliers du Québec) let the demonstrators speak, then issued a press release the same day to clarify its position.

What the CORPIQ said

The organization points out that it had already reacted on October 24, after an investigative report from the program Enquête titled "Portes à tout prix". In its view, pressuring a tenant, intimidating them or exploiting their vulnerability to secure a rent increase or a departure is simply unacceptable. Its executive director, Nathalie Mercier, says wrongdoers should be sanctioned, but that the response should not fall on landlords who follow the rules.

The CORPIQ adds that this stance is not new. It says it asked for penalties against evictions based on false pretexts as early as May 2021, backed the 2023 reform known as Bill 31, which tightens the framework for evictions tied to renovations, and welcomed its adoption in February 2024.

Targeted measures rather than blanket ones

The association proposes working with the government, housing committees and tenant associations. Its core idea is to aim precisely at those who commit abuses, without adding constraints that could slow the supply of rental housing. It also calls for better coordination between institutions and community organizations, so that tenants and landlords understand their rights and obligations more clearly.

What this means for you

If you are a tenant. A notice of rent increase or repossession is not a final order. You can contest it, and the Administrative Housing Tribunal (Tribunal administratif du logement) exists precisely to settle such disagreements. Keep your written exchanges and check the deadlines stated in the notice.

If you are a landlord or investor. Repossessing a unit or carrying out major renovations requires following the proper procedure and being able to justify your reasons. With the public debate this heated, expect closer scrutiny of these files and possible rule changes in the coming months. Document your steps and keep communication with your tenants clear.

If you are buying a rental building. Ask for the history of leases, notices and disputes. A building with strained tenant relations can carry a risk that the price does not always reflect.

What to watch

The issue remains open: no new rule has been announced at this stage, and landlord and tenant groups remain far apart on how to protect households without discouraging the construction and upkeep of housing. The government's next statements will be a useful indicator.