Notice to Vacate in Quebec: Timelines & Templates
Notice Periods by Lease Type
In Quebec, the notice period to vacate depends on the length of your lease. For a 12-month lease (the most common in Quebec, typically running July 1 to June 30), you must give your landlord written notice three to six months before the lease end date. For most standard leases, this means notifying your landlord between January 1 and March 31 if your lease ends June 30.
For leases of less than 12 months, the notice period is one to two months before the end date. For leases with an indeterminate term (month-to-month), you must give one to two months' notice. If you're renting a room in a rooming house, the notice period is 10 days to one month depending on the rental period. Missing these deadlines means your lease automatically renews under the same conditions.
How to Write and Deliver Your Notice
Your notice must be in writing — verbal notice doesn't count. It should include your name, the address of the rental unit, the date you intend to vacate, and your signature. The TAL provides a free "Notice of Non-Renewal of Lease" template on their website (tal.gouv.qc.ca) that covers all required elements.
Deliver the notice by registered mail, by hand with a written acknowledgment from the landlord, or through a bailiff (huissier) if you anticipate a dispute. Keep your proof of delivery — this is your legal shield if the landlord later claims they never received it. Email alone is generally not considered sufficient legal notice in Quebec, though some TAL decisions have accepted it when receipt was acknowledged.
What Happens If You Miss the Deadline
If you fail to send your notice within the required timeframe, your lease automatically renews for the same term and under the same conditions. This is one of the most common and costly mistakes tenants make in Quebec. You'll be locked in for another full year unless you can negotiate an early exit with your landlord or pursue a lease transfer.
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If your landlord sends you a notice of rent increase or modification of lease conditions, you typically have one month to respond. If you refuse the increase and the landlord doesn't agree to maintain the current rent, either party can apply to the TAL to fix the rent. Mark all these deadlines on your calendar the moment you sign your lease — future-you will be grateful. And when the time comes to move, Up & Out can handle the logistics while you focus on the paperwork.
