Student housing crisis in Quebec: Renting a homestay for the start of the 2026 school year

The 2026 school year is fast approaching, and with it, the daunting hurdle of finding a place to live. If you are looking for student housing in Quebec in 2026, you have undoubtedly noticed that the real estate market is going through a period of unprecedented turmoil. Between soaring rents, persistent inflation, and a drastically shrinking rental supply, students are the first to be affected by this difficult situation. At Roomlala, we are closely monitoring this alarming situation and we are convinced that there are viable, secure, and deeply human alternative solutions. Faced with this widespread shortage, renting a homestay or opting for intergenerational shared housing is the ideal answer for many young people. Let's analyze together the stakes of this Quebec housing crisis and the countless advantages, both legal and financial, of this practice which is reinventing the way people live in La Belle Province.

The Quebec housing crisis: An alarming state of affairs for the 2026 school year

Concerning statistics on the Montreal and Quebec rental market

Recent data confirm what many feared on the ground. According to the latest reports from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) for the year 2026, the rental vacancy rate in Montreal remains at a critical threshold, hovering around 1.5%. In some university cities in the province, this rate is even close to 1%. Concretely, a healthy vacancy rate should be around 3% to ensure a balance between supply and demand. At 1.5%, we are in a situation of extreme scarcity. Hosts receive dozens, if not hundreds, of applications for a single studio. Students, often without a solid credit history or local guarantors (especially international students), consistently end up at the bottom of the pile. This reality significantly worsens the shortage of student housing, sometimes forcing them to accept unsanitary housing or housing located hours away from their campus.

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A direct consequence of this scarcity of supply is an explosion in rental prices. New leases signed in 2026 show dizzying increases compared to previous years, making the traditional market almost inaccessible for a single person with a student budget. Finding a homestay in Montreal then becomes not just a simple lifestyle choice, but an absolute necessity to be able to continue one's studies in decent conditions. At Roomlala, we are seeing a massive increase in searches for this type of alternative accommodation, a sign that mentalities are changing by necessity.

The growing financial insecurity of the student population

The impact of this crisis on the financial and mental health of students is devastating. Recent data from the Unité de travail pour l'implantation de logement étudiant (UTILE) are unequivocal: more than 77% of Quebec university students are tenants. Among them, one statistic is particularly chilling: more than 60% of these student tenants spend more than 30% of their monthly income just to pay their rent. Yet, the 30% threshold is recognized worldwide as the limit beyond which a household is considered to be in a situation of financial insecurity related to housing.

When a student spends 40% or 50% of their budget on their rent, the consequences are immediate. They have to cut their grocery budget, forgo healthcare, or work more part-time hours at the expense of their studies. Take the example of Sarah, a second-year student at the University of Montreal. To pay for her $1,200/month studio, she has to work more than 25 hours a week, which has a direct impact on her academic results and her stress level. It is precisely to break this cycle of precariousness that alternatives like student shared housing with a host take on their full meaning at the start of the 2026 school year.

Homestays: A human, economical, and supportive alternative

A reinvented and highly affordable student shared housing option

Faced with the prohibitive prices of individual studios, renting a homestay offers a financial breath of fresh air. As a general rule, renting a room from a private individual costs between 30% and 50% less than an independent apartment. But the financial advantages do not stop at the mere amount of the rent. By opting for this formula, the student is freed from many incidental expenses that weigh heavily on a moving-in budget: buying furniture, opening Hydro-Québec accounts, internet subscriptions, or purchasing appliances. Everything is already in place, ready to use.

Beyond the purely economic aspect, it is the human experience that makes this model strong. The student, especially if they are arriving from another region of Quebec or from abroad, immediately finds a point of reference. Their host can guide them to good local spots, how public transport works (the STM in Montreal or the RTC in Quebec City), and the subtleties of local life. Let's take the case of Julien, a French student who just arrived at UQAM. By renting a room with a young retired couple in the Rosemont neighborhood, he not only halved his housing budget but also benefited from an express integration into Quebec culture, thus avoiding the famous culture shock and the loneliness of the first few months.

The boom in intergenerational cohabitation supported by the government

The year 2026 also marks a turning point in institutional support for these types of accommodation. The Quebec government, aware of the dual problem of the student housing crisis and the isolation of the elderly, is actively encouraging intergenerational cohabitation. The flagship program Échanges entre générations 2026-2027 is the perfect illustration of this. This innovative mechanism subsidizes student accommodation in seniors' residences (RPA) or with elderly individuals, in exchange for a few hours of weekly volunteering.

Concretely, a student can benefit from a very modest (sometimes symbolic) rent by committing to spend 5 to 8 hours per week with their host. These moments of sharing can take various forms: help with using computer tools, sharing meals, reading, or simple discussions to break the loneliness. This is the case for Léo, a student at Laval University, who stays with 72-year-old Marcel in Sainte-Foy. In exchange for a rent of $350 per month, Léo helps Marcel with his heavy grocery shopping and shares dinner with him three times a week. A real relationship of trust and mutual respect is established, proving that student shared housing can take on a deeply social and supportive dimension.

Hosts: The legal and tax framework for renting a room in 2026

Understanding Bill 67 and the directives of the Tribunal administratif du logement (TAL)

For hosts considering offering a homestay in Montreal or elsewhere in Quebec, it is essential to fully understand the legal framework in force in 2026. One of the major points of vigilance concerns the regulations on tourist accommodation (Bill 67). It is crucial not to confuse a student lease with a short-term rental like Airbnb. Since the new 2026 regulations, renting a space for a period of 31 days or less requires mandatory registration with the CITQ (Corporation de l'industrie touristique du Québec) and the provision of two proofs of primary residence. Fines for violating this law are extremely severe.

Fortunately, renting a room to a student for a university session (which lasts several months) avoids this administrative burden. A rental of more than 31 consecutive days falls directly under the jurisdiction of the Tribunal administratif du logement (TAL). This completely exempts the host from the strict rules of tourist accommodation. By signing a standard TAL lease for renting a room, the host enters a clear and protective legal framework, both for themselves and for the tenant. It must be remembered, however, that any rent increase from one year to the next, or the initial setting of the rent if the room was already rented, must imperatively take into account the annual directives issued by the TAL.

Taxation: Declaring income and advantageous deductions

Another fundamental aspect for hosts concerns taxation. At Roomlala, we always remind our community that the income derived from renting a homestay is taxable. It must be declared annually to Revenu Québec and the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). This should not be seen as a deterrent, because the tax system provides for very advantageous mechanisms for hosts who rent out part of their primary residence.

Indeed, you have the right to deduct a portion of your current expenses, calculated proportionally to the area rented in relation to the total area of your home. Here are some examples of eligible expenses that you can deduct from your rental income:

• Electricity and heating: A portion of your Hydro-Québec bills.
• Telecommunication services: A percentage of your internet subscription, which is essential for a student.
• Insurance and taxes: A portion of your home insurance and your municipal and school taxes.
• Maintenance: Expenses related to repairs made specifically in the rented room or in shared common areas.

For example, if the rented room and the shared spaces represent 15% of the total area of your home, you will generally be able to deduct 15% of these fixed costs from your rental income, thus significantly reducing the tax impact. We nevertheless invite you to consult a chartered accountant or the official websites of Revenu Québec and the CRA to validate your specific situation.

Preparing to host: Decency criteria and advice from Roomlala

Offering an adequate living and study environment

Renting a room to a student is not something you can improvise. For the cohabitation to be a success and meet legal requirements, the rented room must respect strict decency criteria. It is not just a matter of providing a mattress, but of offering a truly adequate study environment. In Quebec, health and safety standards require a room to have a minimum area (generally assessed at 9m² for basic comfort). The space must imperatively include a window facing the exterior, not only to guarantee natural light but above all to serve as an emergency exit in case of fire.

In addition, the room must be properly heated, a non-negotiable point given the harshness of the Quebec winter. The student must also have guaranteed and fluid access to basic amenities: a clean bathroom, a kitchen equipped for preparing their meals (which helps them save more), and a stable and fast Wi-Fi connection, which has become the number one work tool for attending online classes, conducting research, or submitting university assignments. Furnishing the room with an ergonomic desk, a comfortable chair, and sufficient storage will make all the difference in attracting serious and respectful profiles.

Securing your rental and finding the perfect match with Roomlala

Opening your door to a stranger can legitimately raise concerns. This is where Roomlala's expertise comes into play. We make it a point of honor to secure each step of the matching process. On our platform, the profiles of tenants and hosts are verified, allowing you to consult reviews left by former housemates. This transparency is key to building mutual trust from the very first interaction.

To ensure a successful cohabitation, we strongly advise you to establish clear house rules from the start. Discuss sleep schedules, policies regarding guests, the division of household chores in common areas, and the use of the kitchen openly. Writing a small cohabitation charter as an addendum to the TAL lease helps to avoid 90% of potential conflicts. At the start of the 2026 school year, faced with the Quebec housing crisis, becoming a host on Roomlala is much more than a financial transaction: it is a civic act, an opportunity for personal enrichment, and a concrete solution to help the new generation build their future with peace of mind.