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NEED TO GET OUT OF A LEASE?

Breaking a lease in Quebec

This page is the free Quebec guide. No sign-in. Read on.

In Quebec, the usual route for leaving a lease early is assignment of the lease (cession de bail): the lessor has 15 days to reply, and silence counts as acceptance. There is also a separate exit, under article 1974.1 of the Civil Code, for a lessee facing violence.

  1. 1

    How much notice for a periodic tenancy

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    Quebec's published lease-exit route is assignment, not a periodic notice. A tenant who wants to leave sends the lessor a notice of assignment naming the assignee, with their address and the date. The lessor has 15 days to reply; if the lessor stays silent, that is deemed acceptance. The lessor may refuse only for a serious reason, such as the proposed assignee's inability to pay.

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  2. 2

    Fixed term: can it end early?

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    Because assignment carries the same obligations to the new tenant, it is Quebec's normal way out of a lease that still has time to run. For a sublease, the lessor may charge only the reimbursement of reasonable expenses.

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  3. 3

    Assignment and sublet

    The notice of assignment names the assignee, their address, and the date.Open this section ↓

    The notice of assignment names the assignee, their address, and the date. The lessor has 15 days to reply, and silence is deemed acceptance. A refusal requires a serious reason. For a sublease, the lessor may charge only reimbursement of reasonable expenses, not a consent fee.

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  4. 4

    The violence exit

    Article 1974.1 of the Civil Code of Quebec lets a lessee end the current lease early on any of three grounds: sexual violence, spousal violence, or violence toward a child who lives in the dwelling covered by the lease.Open this section ↓

    Article 1974.1 of the Civil Code of Quebec lets a lessee end the current lease early on any of three grounds: sexual violence, spousal violence, or violence toward a child who lives in the dwelling covered by the lease. The test is that, because of one of these, the safety of the lessee or of the child is threatened. Sexual violence qualifies regardless of who is responsible.

    • The notice itself ends the lease; there is no application to the Tribunal. The resiliation takes effect two months after the notice is sent to the landlord, or one month after it is sent if the lease is for an indeterminate term or a term of less than 12 months. The clock runs from when you send the notice, not from when the landlord receives it, and a longer lease gets the longer notice.
    • It can take effect sooner in two cases: the landlord and lessee agree, or the lessee has moved out and the landlord re-leases the dwelling during that period.
    • The notice must be accompanied by an attestation from a public officer designated by the Minister of Justice. These officers are prosecutors of the Directeur des poursuites criminelles et pénales (DPCP) and, in Montreal, prosecutors of the cour municipale de Montréal. In practice you apply at the DPCP point of service at the courthouse serving your municipality, at a CAVAC, or, in Montreal, at the cour municipale. You bring a copy of the lease, a completed request form, and one supporting document, such as a police statement or a letter from a physician, a health professional, a CAVAC, a CALACS, or a shelter worker.
    • The request form includes a solemn oath or affirmation that must be signed before an authorized person, such as a commissioner for oaths, a court clerk, a lawyer, or a notary.
    • You owe rent up to the resiliation date; moving out earlier does not end the rent before that date. For the part of the rent that pays for personal services attached to you or a child living with you, you owe only the services actually provided before you leave.
    • You may be able to apply to IVAC for reimbursement of certain amounts, such as rent paid between the notice and the resiliation and moving expenses. Confirm what you are eligible for with IVAC directly.
    • Only the person who signed the lease can end it this way. People who live in the dwelling but did not sign the lease may leave without any formality, with no notice and no attestation.

    If more than one person signed the lease and only one of you gives this notice, we cannot tell you what happens to the co-signatory who stays, because no official source states it. Do not assume. Ask the Tribunal administratif du logement information service, a CAVAC, or Rebâtir before relying on any answer.

    Whether a particular ground, including violence toward a child, is reimbursed by IVAC is stated differently by the official French and English pages, so we do not publish a scope here. Confirm your eligibility with IVAC directly.

    If you are in danger, call 911. Support is also available across Canada through your local victim services.

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  5. 5

    Tribunal filing fees

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    • The filing fee schedule in force from April 1, 2026, ties some applications to the rent. For an application to modify the lease, or to fix or revise the rent, or to contest an adjustment: if the rent is $350 or less, $59; over $350 up to $600, $70; over $600, $92.
    • A reinstatement on the roll, or a motion to reopen a hearing, is $47.
    • The flat fee for other applications, including one about unpaid rent, is $92.
    • A conversion to divided co-ownership is $226 per dwelling.
    • A person who receives last-resort financial assistance is exempt from paying costs.
    • Notification costs are separate from the filing fee and must be requested and proven at the hearing: registered mail $13.15; a bailiff $27.00 where the applicant is a natural person and $28.00 where a legal person, per person served; any other method $7.00; a Tribunal-authorized special method up to $100.
    • Where rent is deposited at the Tribunal's office, a levy of 3.8% is collected by the Tribunal and borne by the lessor.
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  6. 6

    Official sources

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    7. This page tells you what the published rules and documents are. It does not predict what a landlord will agree to or how a tribunal will decide. Following the correct route helps avoid owing rent you did not have to, but nothing here guarantees a particular result. For advice on your situation, contact your provincial tribunal or a paralegal or lawyer.

  7. 7

    Common Questions

    How do I get out of a lease early in Quebec?Open this section ↓

    How do I get out of a lease early in Quebec?

    The usual route is assignment of the lease (cession de bail). You send the lessor a notice naming the proposed assignee. The lessor has 15 days to reply, and silence counts as acceptance. The lessor may refuse only for a serious reason, such as the assignee's inability to pay.

    Can I end a lease in Quebec because of violence?

    Yes. Article 1974.1 of the Civil Code lets a lessee end the lease for sexual violence, spousal violence, or violence toward a child who lives in the dwelling, where safety is threatened. The notice must be accompanied by an attestation from a designated public officer (a DPCP prosecutor, or in Montreal a cour municipale prosecutor), and the lease ends two months after the notice is sent, or one month for a lease that is indeterminate or under 12 months.

    What does it cost to file at the Tribunal administratif du logement?

    The schedule in force from April 1, 2026 ranges from $47 for a reinstatement to $92 for most applications, with rent-based tiers of $59, $70, or $92 for applications to modify the lease or the rent. A person on last-resort financial assistance is exempt.

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Where to go from here

All provinces: breaking a lease →Quebec landlord & tenant guide →I got an eviction notice →

Guidepost is not a law firm and does not give legal advice. This page is general information about the process for Quebec. The correct notice, documents, and route depend on your facts; for advice, contact your provincial tribunal or a paralegal or lawyer. Full disclaimer. Facts checked September 2026.

Informational guide only. Guidepost is not a law firm. This guide explains the typical process and is not legal advice. Requirements can change. Verify current rules with the relevant government authority or a qualified professional before you act.