Law 31 in Quebec in 2026: Impacts on lease assignment and alternative solutions

For several years, the Quebec real estate market has been going through a period of intense transformation. In this year 2026, access to housing remains at the heart of concerns, particularly with the full application of recent legislative reforms. Among them, Bill 31 Quebec 2026 has deeply redrawn the rules of the game between tenants and landlords, putting an end to certain historical practices that allowed affordable rents to be maintained from one occupant to the next. At Roomlala, we know how much these changes can generate uncertainty, both for students looking for a roof and for young professionals wishing to settle in the city.

Faced with these new restrictions, particularly regarding lease transfers, many Quebecers feel stuck if they have to leave their home before the end of their contract. However, very advantageous legal and financial solutions exist. Renting a room in a homestay or supervised shared housing are now presented as safe and flexible alternatives. In this article, we decipher for you the concrete impacts of Bill 31 and explain how to navigate this new rental landscape with peace of mind.

Read also: Rise in rental utility costs in Switzerland (Winter 2026): Renting out a room to balance your budget, Student housing shortage in Belgium in 2026: Homestay, the supportive alternative and Youth Rental Voucher fall 2026: How to fund your shared housing in Spain

Understanding Bill 31 Quebec 2026: The end of easy lease transfers?

What has changed since the adoption of Bill 31

Adopted on February 21, 2024, Bill 31 modifying various legislative provisions regarding housing has had the effect of an earthquake in the world of renting in Quebec. Historically, lease transfer was the preferred tool for tenants to leave an apartment early while allowing a loved one or a stranger to benefit from a rent often lower than the market price. The landlord could not oppose it without a serious reason, such as the new candidate's inability to pay.

Today, the situation has changed radically. With the full application of Bill 31 Quebec 2026, a Quebec landlord now possesses the right to refuse a lease transfer without having to justify a serious reason. This provision aims to restore control to landlords over the choice of their tenants and over the setting of rent between two leases, but it greatly complicates the task for departing tenants.

The direct consequence of this unjustified refusal is major: the lease is automatically terminated on the date of transfer initially planned by the tenant. Clearly, if you wish to transfer your lease and your landlord refuses, you are freed from your obligations on the agreed date, but you can no longer transfer your advantageous rent to a third party. Let's take a concrete example: Marc, a tenant in Montreal, finds a job in Quebec City and wants to transfer his 4 1/2 at $800 to his friend Luc. The landlord refuses without giving a reason. Marc's lease will end on the planned date of the transfer, and the landlord will be able to re-rent the property at a new price.

The 15-day delay: a strict rule still in force

Despite these upheavals, certain procedural rules remain unchanged and protect tenants. When you send a notice of lease transfer to your landlord, they do not have an infinite amount of time to decide. The law still imposes a strict deadline of 15 days to respond to your written request.

At Roomlala, we always advise you to send this notice by registered mail with acknowledgement of receipt, in order to have irrefutable proof of the date of receipt. From that moment, the countdown begins. If the landlord responds to you within 15 days to refuse, your lease will be terminated on the proposed transfer date, as explained previously.

However, the absence of a response from the landlord within this 15-day period is legally equivalent to an acceptance of the transfer. If your landlord lets this deadline pass, they will no longer be able to oppose the arrival of your candidate, and the lease transfer will be effective. It is therefore crucial to be extremely rigorous about dates and modes of communication to assert your rights.

Lease transfer vs. Subletting: Stop confusing the two!

Shared housing lease transfer: a final departure now regulated

It is imperative to clearly distinguish lease transfer from subletting, because the rights, remedies, and the impact of Bill 31 differ completely. Lease transfer corresponds to a definitive departure. You transfer your contract, you renounce all your rights to the property, and you no longer have any responsibility towards the landlord once the transfer is recorded.

In the context of a shared housing lease transfer, the situation can become particularly complex. If one of the roommates wishes to leave the property permanently, they must transfer their share of the lease. With the new legislation, the landlord can refuse this transfer without a serious reason. This results in the termination of the lease for the departing roommate, but it can also force the remaining roommates to sign a new lease with the landlord, potentially at a revised rent, or to assume the entire initial rent alone.

This uncertainty pushes many young people and students to look for more flexible alternatives, where the departure of a roommate does not threaten the financial or legal balance of the other occupants. This is where flexible accommodation formulas take on their full meaning in 2026.

Subletting: your ally for a temporary departure

Unlike transfer, subletting is absolutely not impacted by the new restrictions of Bill 31 concerning refusal without reason. Subletting applies during a temporary departure: you leave the property for a few months (for example, for a summer internship or a university exchange) with the firm intention of returning.

In this case, the landlord must always provide a serious reason (such as the subtenant's insolvency or documented behavioral problems) to refuse your subletting request. They cannot use subletting as a pretext to terminate your lease or increase the rent.

For example, if Sophie, a student at UQAM, goes to do a three-month internship in Sherbrooke, she can sublet her room. If she respects the procedure and proposes a solvent candidate, her landlord will have a very hard time opposing it. At Roomlala, we facilitate the connection for these temporary sublets, helping you find trusted profiles to keep your accommodation safe while you are away.

Quebec housing regulations regarding homestays

The exception of article 1892 of the Civil Code of Quebec

Faced with the increasing rigidity of the traditional market, more and more Quebecers are turning to renting rooms in a homestay. What many do not know is that this practice benefits from an extremely flexible legal framework, far from the usual administrative burdens. Everything rests on a little-known exception of Quebec housing regulations.

According to article 1892 of the Civil Code of Quebec, the rental of one or two rooms located in the landlord's primary residence is completely outside the jurisdiction of the Tribunal administratif du logement (TAL). For this exception to apply, the room must have neither an independent external exit nor complete private sanitary facilities. It must be an integral part of the landlord's living space.

This exclusion from the jurisdiction of the TAL offers immense contractual flexibility. The landlord and the tenant are free to set the terms of the contract according to the general rules of contracts of the Civil Code: duration of the rental, notice periods, amount of rent, and rules of common living. There is no mandatory lease renewal or strict control of rent increases, which reassures many landlords who are hesitant to commit to a standard lease.

Attention to the legal qualification of the room

At Roomlala, we do however want to raise a crucial point of vigilance. The line between a simple homestay room and an autonomous dwelling subject to the TAL is sometimes thin. It is essential to clearly understand the legal qualification of the rented space to avoid unpleasant surprises.

If the room you are renting or offering for rent has an entrance distinct from that of the landlord (for example, a door leading directly outside without passing through the common living room) AND private sanitary facilities (exclusive bathroom and toilets), the law considers it to be an autonomous dwelling.

Once these criteria are met, the exception of article 1892 falls away. The dwelling falls back under the strict regulations of the Tribunal administratif du logement. The standard lease becomes mandatory, the rules of transfer and rent setting apply, and the landlord loses the flexibility inherent in a homestay room. It is therefore paramount to properly evaluate the configuration of the premises before drafting the rental contract.

Renting a homestay room in Montreal or elsewhere: The flexibility solution with Roomlala

Undeniable financial and legal advantages

In the current context, renting a homestay room in Montreal, Quebec City, or Sherbrooke is no longer just an economic choice, it is a real strategy for peace of mind. For the tenant, it is the assurance of escaping the stress of complex lease transfers. You sign a clear contract, often of short or medium duration, adapted to your student or professional lifestyle.

Financially, a homestay room remains one of the most affordable options on the market. Utilities (hydro, internet, heating) are generally included in the price, avoiding unpleasant surprises at the end of the month. In addition, the accommodations are often fully furnished and equipped, which significantly reduces setup costs for newcomers to Quebec.

For landlords, it is a fantastic opportunity to generate significant extra income to cope with inflation and rising mortgage rates, while keeping full control over their home thanks to the exception of article 1892. You can rent out your guest room for a few months without fear of being stuck with a long-term lease.

Security and support: why choose Roomlala?

We know that taking the step of renting a homestay can raise questions. How can you be sure to come across the right person? How to guarantee rent payments? It is precisely to address these challenges that Roomlala was designed. Our platform acts as a trusted third party between hosts and tenants.

By using Roomlala, you benefit from verified profiles, a secure messaging system to exchange before committing, and above all, protected online payment. The tenant pays on the platform, and the landlord is assured of receiving their funds on time and securely. No more bad checks or late payments.

In addition, we provide our community with contract templates adapted to homestay rentals, respecting the Civil Code of Quebec. Whether you are looking for accommodation for the fall 2026 semester or want to monetize an unoccupied room, Roomlala offers you a reassuring, human, and perfectly adapted framework for the new legal realities of Quebec.