Quebec Eviction Moratorium: Subdivision, Enlargement and Change of Use 2024–2027

Since June 6, 2024, Quebec landlords have been unable to evict residential tenants to subdivide or substantially enlarge a dwelling, or change its destination. Bill 65 suspends these eviction grounds under Article 1959 of the Civil Code of Québec through June 6, 2027, subject to statutory exceptions, including specified cases involving private seniors' residences and notices already in process when the moratorium began.

What the Moratorium Blocks

The moratorium applies to eviction notices issued to:

• Subdivide a dwelling (splitting one unit into two or more)
• Substantially enlarge a dwelling (major structural expansion)
• Change the destination of a dwelling (converting residential space to commercial use)

If your planned project falls into any of these categories, you generally cannot issue an eviction notice under Article 1959 during the moratorium unless a statutory exception applies.

What the Moratorium Does Not Block

Three important routes remain fully available:

Repossession (Articles 1957–1958) is unaffected. If you are an individual owner who genuinely intends to occupy the dwelling yourself or house a qualifying beneficiary, you follow the standard repossession route — TAL Form 809A, six months' notice for a lease longer than six months, and a TAL application if the tenant refuses. The moratorium does not touch this.

Demolition remains possible, subject to the municipality's rules and the TAL process under sections 32–35 of the Act respecting the Administrative Housing Tribunal. Contact the municipality to determine whether authorization is required.

Some private seniors' residence (RPA) closures are exempt when the statutory requirements for revoking an operating authorization or approving a cessation-of-activities plan are met.

Why the Moratorium Exists

Renovictions — evicting tenants under the pretext of major renovations, only to re-rent the unit at dramatically higher rents — became widespread enough that the National Assembly intervened. During the moratorium, Bill 65 blocks the specified eviction grounds: subdivision, substantial enlargement, and change of destination.

The moratorium is scheduled to expire on June 6, 2027. Whether it will be extended, made permanent, or allowed to lapse depends on the political landscape at that time. Landlords planning major renovations should track the legislative calendar closely as the expiry date approaches.

Planning Around the Moratorium

Temporary evacuation for major repairs requires compensation and gives the tenant a right to return after the work. If you need the tenancy to end for another reason during the moratorium, your options are:

• Negotiate a mutual termination agreement — a written, bilateral agreement signed by both parties where the tenant agrees to vacate on a specific date, typically in exchange for compensation you negotiate directly
• Wait for the lease to end naturally — if the tenant chooses not to renew (unlikely if they are comfortable), the unit becomes available
• Repossess for personal use — but only if you genuinely intend to live in the unit yourself, not as a workaround for the moratorium. You must be able to prove the stated intention in good faith.

Using a repossession notice as a pretext for renovation can expose you to a bad-faith damages claim, including punitive damages.

After June 2027

If the moratorium expires without renewal, landlords will again be able to issue eviction notices for subdivision, enlargement, and change of destination — subject to the Bill 31 compensation rules (one month's rent per year of occupancy, minimum three months, maximum 24, plus moving expenses) and the requirement for municipal permits.

The Quebec Tenancy Notice Guide maps every available route during the moratorium and the specific notice forms each requires.

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