Montreal tenants in the Parc-Extension neighborhood confront rent increases reaching 20 percent, sparking widespread complaints amid reports of building disrepair.
Longtime Resident’s Battle Against Hike
Ali Kamruzzaman, a 70-year-old resident who has lived in his Parc-Extension apartment for 28 years with his wife, faces cracks in ceilings and walls, damaged countertops, warped cabinets, bathroom mold, and other issues. Despite these conditions, his new landlord demanded a $150 monthly rent increase. “They like to collect money, but don’t like to spend money,” Kamruzzaman stated. He countered with a $50 offer, roughly double the provincial guideline of 3.1 percent based on his current rent, and the two sides reached that agreement.
Broader Tenant Pushback
The Comité d’Action de Parc-Extension (CAPE) reports that tenants in 18 nearby buildings on L’Acadie and D’Anvers avenues, plus Birnam Street, received notices for 5 to 20 percent hikes from two landlords sharing the same property manager. CAPE has opened over 50 contestation files. Coordinator Amy Darwish notes that tenant counteroffers are rejected, with landlord responses still at $50 to $80—”enormous increases” for those paying around $800 monthly. Rents in Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension sit at record highs, forcing longtime residents into tough financial decisions.
Examples include two tenants hit with $150 hikes: one at 20.58 percent and another at 18.75 percent.
Landlords Cite Major Investments
Marc Lemieux, one of the two owners managing over 165 units across several buildings, explains that the properties, bought last summer, had more than 350 city-issued safety and security violations. Investments total $3.1 million, with $2.1 million qualifying under the Tribunal administratif du logement (TAL) calculator to justify hikes. The average increase stands at 9 percent, affecting 89 tenants with 5 to 20 percent raises, higher where more repairs occurred.
“The problems were related to the heating,” Lemieux said. “We addressed these issues, changed the furnaces, secured access to all units, installed surveillance cameras, converted factory-made panels to breaker panels, replaced windows, and implemented an extermination program.”
Quebec Guidelines and Legal Options
The TAL recommends 3.1 percent increases for unrenovated apartments renewing after April 1, or 4.5 percent for earlier leases, based on taxes, insurance, and other costs. Housing lawyer David Searle emphasizes that hikes above 3.1 percent require proof of expenses or renovations. “The tenant has to be convinced that there was either work done or tax or insurance increases beyond 3.1 percent,” he said.
Searle advises contesting within 30 days if unjustified, but notes many negotiate to avoid tribunal challenges. Maintenance costs impact everyone, he adds.
