Montreal, September 8, 2025 – Too many tenants still live in unsanitary housing in Montreal because of negligent landlords who allow their buildings to fall into disrepair. Although the majority of landlords maintain their properties properly, a minority refuse to fulfill their responsibilities, leaving their tenants in unacceptable conditions.
Today, Luc Rabouin, leader of Projet Montréal, is committing to implementing a procedure aimed at strengthening municipal tools to combat residential unsanitary conditions, protect tenants and intervene more quickly with delinquent landlords. This procedure will be implemented within the first 100 days with close support from the boroughs to ensure rapid and tangible results.
"It is unacceptable that in 2025, Montreal families are still living in housing that is dangerous to their health and safety. With the systematization of ‘on-site’ interventions, we want to crack down on negligent landlords to ensure healthy living conditions for all Montreal tenants by putting in place concrete intervention mechanisms. This means no more endless waiting for tenants. We are acting more quickly, more firmly and with a single priority: taking care of people," said Luc Rabouin, leader of Projet Montréal.
Gradual measures as a safeguard for tenants
Projet Montréal will implement a gradual intervention process. Following an initial warning, follow-up will be conducted with property owners. If no action is taken, a fine will be imposed, accompanied by a notice specifying that, without intervention on their part, the City will proceed with the work itself. At the end of the prescribed period, depending on the case, the City will carry out the necessary work and send the bill to the owner concerned. Projet Montréal also undertakes to implement the following measures:
1. Systematic “in lieu” interventions
The City will intervene directly in unsanitary housing within a maximum of six months, after issuing a warning and a fine, when owners fail to take responsibility. These interventions were possible under the bylaw and intensified under the Responsible Owners program, but will now become systematic.
2. Significant increase in fines
Fines for failure to intervene following a finding of unsanitary conditions will be significantly increased in order to create a real deterrent effect.
3. Creation of a supplier database
A database of qualified suppliers will be set up to carry out the work quickly, both for boroughs and for owners.
This gradation will be implemented within a maximum period of six months to ensure rapid action. These measures complement the Propriétaires responsables (Responsible Landlords) project, implemented by Projet Montréal, which aims to inspect all rental buildings in the city of Montreal and require landlords to make the necessary repairs to maintain their buildings.
New regulations for vacant buildings
Currently, the City can intervene in vacant buildings that pose a safety threat. Projet Montréal wants to go further and adopt new regulations that allow it to intervene in problematic vacant buildings in the same way that the party wants to do for unsanitary buildings. If a building impacts the quality of life of neighboring tenants, or even threatens to force them to evacuate, the City will be able to intervene “in their place.”
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Source :
Simon Charron
Chief's press officer
