(Orford) The Legault government must protect tenants and refuse the proposed increase in rent prices of 5.9%, calculated by the administrative housing tribunal, demands the Liberal Party of Quebec.
Posted at 9:12 a.m.
Updated at 11:56 a.m.
“This rent increase will have a major impact on the budget from July 1 for thousands of Quebecers,” lamented PLQ interim leader Marc Tanguay on Wednesday at a press briefing. He asks that it be lowered to “take into account the impact that it will have on people’s lives”.
PHOTO EDOUARD PLANTE-FRÉCHETTE, LA PRESS
The interim leader of the PLQ, Marc Tanguay
On Tuesday, the administrative housing court (TAL) released its estimated increase in rent prices for 2025. To arrive at this percentage, it takes into consideration the consumer price index (CPI) for 2023 and 2024.
This is the steepest increase in the last three decades. If it is followed, a tenant who pays rent of $1,000 could see it rise to $1,059 when their lease is renewed, an annual increase of $709. Tenant defense organizations immediately pointed out that this would have effects on housing affordability in Quebec.
The Minister responsible for Housing, France-Élaine Duranceau, however, does not envisage any change to the criteria for setting rent, despite this significant increase. The solution instead involves adding housing.
« [Le règlement] is based on data. It’s a method that has served us well for 40 years,” said M.me Duranceau Tuesday, in the press scrum. The government cannot intervene with the TAL, which is an independent institution, she clarified.
“Worn and disconnected”
Marc Tanguay believes that this response is the symbol of a “worn and disconnected” government. “I think it completely ignores the fact that people are suffering from the financial impact of this,” he lamented.
-“The 5.9% increase in rents that will be permitted, for us, does not pass the test […] we need to revisit that. The minister can act, the Legault government can act,” he thundered.
As for the fact that the institution is independent, he replies that that did not prevent the Legault government from intervening with the Régie de l’énergie to cap the increase in the electricity bill of residential customers at 3%.
The PLQ goes further than its initial position, which was to review the formula for calculating rent increases in the future. MP Virginie Dufour believed that it was not possible to intervene on this year’s increase.
Québec solidaire, for its part, is asking Minister Duranceau to put in place a rent register and a rent control mechanism. “Increases recommended by the TAL which are close to 6%, represent large amounts: let’s remember that the average rent already exceeds $2,000 in several cities in Quebec! While last year, despite the recommendation of 4%, the increase could exceed 8% in several cities, I fear that tenants will receive increases in 2025 that exceed 10%,” said MP Andrès Fontecilla in a press release.
With the collaboration of Megan Foy, The Press
Legault maintains the record increase in rents
François Legault does not intend to cancel or revise the 5.9% increase in rent prices suggested by the Administrative Housing Tribunal. “We have taken action for what is administered by the government” with the capping of hydroelectricity rates at 3% for example. “But when we talk about housing, we go to the private sector,” he said, stressing that the Court’s calculation takes into account inflation and higher costs for owners. “I agree that it is very hard for some people. […] The real solution is supply and demand. We need to increase the number of housing units. »
Tommy Chouinard, The Press
