Need to get out of a lease?
Breaking a lease in Quebec
In Quebec, the published 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.
How much notice for a periodic tenancy
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.
Fixed term: can it end early?
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.
Assignment and sublet
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.
Leaving because of violence
Quebec's rules for ending a lease early because of violence are set in the Civil Code and administered by the Tribunal administratif du logement. This page does not state the specifics, because they are outside what we have verified for Quebec. See the TAL for the current requirements and documents.
If you are in danger, call 911. Support is also available across Canada through your local victim services.
Tribunal filing fees
- 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.
Official sources
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.
Common Questions
How do I get out of a lease early in Quebec?
The published 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.
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.
Where to go from here
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. Last updated: July 2026.