Quebec July 1 Lease Renewal Rent Increase: Deadlines and Calendar for Landlords

July 1 is moving day in Quebec. The vast majority of 12-month residential leases expire June 30, making January through March the critical notice window. If you own a rental property, here's the calendar that governs your next rent increase.

The January 1 – March 31 Window

For a standard 12-month lease expiring June 30, the statutory notice window opens six months before expiry (January 1) and closes three months before expiry (March 31).

Your tenant must receive the notice by March 31 — not just have it postmarked. If you send registered mail on March 28 and delivery takes four business days, your notice arrives April 1 and is invalid. Build in at least a week of buffer.

A Concrete Timeline

You serve notice via registered mail on January 15. The tenant signs for delivery on January 18.

• Tenant response deadline: February 18 (one month from receipt)
• If tenant accepts or stays silent: lease renews July 1 at the new rent
• If tenant refuses on February 10: your TAL filing deadline is March 10
• If tenant refuses on February 18 (last day): your TAL filing deadline is March 18

Earlier service gives you more room. Serving in January means even a late refusal still gives you until February to file. Serving on March 25 means a refusal in late April leaves you filing in late May — tight, but workable.

Non-Standard Lease Dates

Not every Quebec lease runs July 1 to June 30. The same rules apply, just with different dates.

October 1 lease (expires September 30): Notice window is April 1 through June 30.

January 1 lease (expires December 31): Notice window is July 1 through September 30.

Six-month lease (expires December 31): Shorter lease, shorter window — November 1 through November 30 (1 to 2 months for leases under 12 months).

The formula is the same regardless of when the lease expires. Work backward from the expiry date using the statutory windows: 3–6 months for 12+ month leases, 1–2 months for shorter ones.

What If You Miss the Window

If March 31 passes and your tenant hasn't received a notice, the lease auto-renews at the existing rent for another 12 months. No increase, no modification, no recourse until the next cycle.

You can't serve a "late" notice for the current renewal period. You can't negotiate a mid-term increase outside the statutory framework. Your next opportunity is January 1 of the following year, for the July 1 renewal after that.

For a $50/month increase, missing one window costs $600 in unrealized revenue. For a duplex with two missed units, that's $1,200. The cost scales with property size.

Tip: Calendar the Deadlines in October

The best time to prepare for a July 1 increase is late October or November — well before the January window opens. Use that time to:

1. Pull the property tax and insurance documents for the applicable reference years
2. Compile any capital work invoices from the preceding calendar year
3. Check the formula that applies to the date you serve notice and the renewal period
4. Download the current TAL notice form (TAL-806A-E)
5. Decide on your service method (registered mail or bailiff)

When January arrives, you're ready to serve rather than scrambling to calculate.

The Quebec Rent Increase Guide includes a deadline worksheet for both standard July 1 and non-standard lease dates, plus a pre-notice preparation checklist to keep you ahead of the calendar.

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