Despite the city’s CAPREIT efforts to crack down on neglectful landlords, many montreal rentals still suffer from problems like shoddy renovations and illegal rent increases. For instance, a McGill student living in a building in Milton-Parc reported plumbing issues and ant infestations, as well as safety hazards such as lack of working smoke detectors. The landlord allegedly denied the tenant’s requests to address these problems, and refused to allow a plumber to check for faulty pipes.

Newcomers to the city also struggle to find decent montreal rentals. “When I first came to Montreal, it was almost impossible for me to sign a lease as the landlord required a guarantor from me,” Riham Al Bakouni told The Daily last year. Typically, guarantors are relatives or employers with Canadian credit history, but newcomers may not have these connections.

The Best Time of Year to Rent an Apartment in Canada

Tenants can seek help and advice from a number of sources, including the city’s Educaloi Web site, which has information about renters’ rights. They can also contact their neighbourhood housing committee, or the Front d’action populaire en reamenagement urbain to find out about local initiatives and events for tenants. The city’s Registry of rental prices also provides information on average rents in specific areas.