Thousands of tenants moved their boxes into new homes on the 1stis July, in Quebec. This year, the day was marked by the scarcity and the increase in the price of rents. Some had to make choices to find a roof over their heads without breaking the bank.
Félix Doré and his partner took part in the grand ballet of the 1is July in the heart of Old Limoilou, while the neighborhood was teeming with trucks and volunteers who came to lend a hand to loved ones.
Vincent Desbiens
Félix Doré (in white in the photo) had to resign himself to moving into an apartment knowing that he would have to take steps at the Administrative Housing Tribunal for an excessive rent increase.
The couple had to resign themselves to moving into an apartment that was subject to an exorbitant rent increase, knowing that they would have to appeal to the Administrative Housing Tribunal (TAL).
“We visited many apartments and lost five. We didn’t have much time left, so we thought it would be easier to take this overpriced rent and try to lower the price to the TAL afterwards. We didn’t want to take the risk of ending up with nothing,” says Mr. Doré.
Temporary solution
For his part, Jérémy Deraspe was able to take a breather by moving to his native Beauport on Monday. He and his girlfriend were finally able to find a place to live that met their criteria, after turning to a temporary solution last summer.
As his partner is still studying, the two lovers were looking for accommodation near the university, but quickly had to review their expectations.
Vincent Desbiens
Jacob Falcao (right) and his friend Pierre emptied the furniture from the former’s apartment to transport it by truck to the neighboring street, July 1, 2024.
“We started months in advance, but Sainte-Foy is completely absurd. For a 4 and a half, there’s nothing under $1,600. It was way too expensive for us. We had to go quite far, but we found something good,” says the young man who could count on his father and several friends for the operation.
Record vacancy rates and requests for assistance
The housing vacancy rate has never been so low in the cities of the province, and the Old Capital is no exception. The 0.9% of unoccupied apartments, a record of the last 15 years, increases the pressure on tenants, who are twice as numerous to have called on a housing assistance service in 2024.
“For families looking for accommodation with three or more bedrooms, the vacancy rate is close to 0% in the greater Quebec City area,” laments the spokesperson for the Front d’action populaire en réaménagement urbain (FRAPRU), Véronique Laflamme.
Vincent Desbiens
8th Avenue in Limoilou was completely blocked by cars and moving trucks on July 1, 2024. The police even had to intervene to clear the way.
No fewer than 1,599 households have called on a moving assistance service in the National Capital this year. At the time of writing, about a hundred of them had not yet found a place to live and 30 others were temporarily housed.
“This does not mean that these families will end up on the street,” says M.me Laflamme: For some, the move is in August or September. But, it is a new phenomenon and it says a lot about the current crisis.
