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The findings presented below are based on the CALODI West Island Tenant Survey, conducted between July 2024 and December 2024. The survey provides valuable quantitative and qualitative evidence regarding the condition of rental housing across the West Island.

Personal accounts from respondents reveal a consistent pattern of neglected maintenance, deteriorating building conditions, and widespread violations of tenants' rights.

Many tenants reported that their buildings no longer have a live-in concierge or regular maintenance staff, leaving them uncertain about whom to contact for necessary repairs. Respondents frequently described long delays for essential repairs and a general lack of preventive maintenance. Several tenants indicated that plumbing, electrical, and other repairs often appeared to be carried out by unqualified workers, raising concerns about building safety, particularly with respect to electrical work.

Many tenants reported carrying out repairs themselves because landlords failed to respond in a timely manner, because they lacked confidence in the quality of repairs being performed, or because they feared that requesting repairs would lead to significant rent increases.

Others expressed concerns that their buildings might not comply with applicable building codes and that renovations were being undertaken without the required permits or inspections.

Respondents also described a troubling pattern in which cosmetic improvements—such as repainting and replacing flooring—were delayed until long-term tenants moved out, enabling landlords to substantially increase rents for new tenants. Meanwhile, both structural and cosmetic repairs were often neglected in units occupied by long-term tenants.

Sanitation issues were particularly widespread. According to our survey, 150 respondents (82%) experienced at least one sanitation-related problem during the previous five years. The most commonly reported issues included water infiltration, mould, and insect infestations.

The adoption of municipal sanitation and property maintenance by-laws would provide important protections for tenants. Such by-laws would establish clear minimum housing standards, authorize municipal inspections, define fines and penalties for non-compliance, and allow municipalities to order—or, when necessary, undertake—corrective work at the property owner's expense.

Inspection reports produced under these by-laws would also provide valuable evidence before the Tribunal administratif du logement (TAL).

Given the prevalence of unsafe and unsanitary housing conditions, landlords' refusal to perform necessary repairs, and the complexity of seeking relief through the TAL, stronger municipal enforcement is essential to protecting tenants' health and safety.

The survey also documented widespread violations of tenants' legal rights. One in six respondents reported experiencing discrimination, two out of every seven reported being subjected to harassment, and one in three said they had been pressured to accept unfair rent increases.

Other examples reported by respondents include:

1. Landlords changing locks without providing replacement keys.

2. Harassment, intimidation, and threats of violence by landlords or their associates.

3. Retaliation against tenants involved in organizing tenant associations.

4. Suspected vandalism or theft of tenants' property.

5. Leases with Section G left blank, preventing tenants from knowing the previous rent.

6. Lease renewal notices that omitted the legal option to refuse a rent increase while remaining in the dwelling.

7. Landlords explicitly stating that no maintenance or repairs would be performed unless tenants accepted substantial rent increases or vacated their apartments.

8. Tenants being mocked, belittled, or patronized by landlords or their representatives.

9. Significant psychological impacts, including anxiety, depression, social isolation, and diminished self-esteem, resulting from ongoing harassment and housing insecurity.

These findings paint a disturbing picture of the state of rental housing in the West Island. For too many tenants, unsafe housing conditions, neglected maintenance, and violations of their legal rights have become part of everyday life.

Housing is more than a commodity—it is the foundation of health, safety, and human dignity. When landlords are permitted to neglect their legal responsibilities with little consequence, tenants pay the price.

In one of the most affluent regions of Quebec, no one should have to choose between living in unsafe conditions and risking the loss of their home. Municipal governments have both the authority and the responsibility to act. By adopting and vigorously enforcing sanitation and property maintenance by-laws, municipalities can help ensure that every tenant has access to safe, healthy, and well-maintained housing.

The evidence is clear. The need is urgent. It is time for municipalities across the West Island to put people before profits and make tenant protection a priority.

Mario Leclerc is a resident of Pointe-Claire and a former member of CALODI’s board of directors.