On September 20, the Association des Propriétaires du Québec (APQ) was heard as part of the special consultations and public hearings on Bill 31, An Act to amend various legislative provisions concerning housing.
This bill which was tabled in June by Mrs. France-Élaine Duranceau is a good beginning, according to the APQ, although several elements are missing such as the security deposit or a reform of the rent-setting process with rates on major works amortized over 10 to 12 years. The Association des Propriétaires du Québec has posted on its website the brief tabled in the National Assembly at:
https://www.apq.org/medias/revendications-recentes/
Following the tabling of the brief and during its oral presentation, the Association des Propriétaires du Québec (APQ) therefore suggests that this bill be amended in six ways:
• The Association des Propriétaires du Québec (APQ) supports the adoption of section 7 as is, Adopting the amendments related to the right of cancellation as with immediate coming into force.
• The Association des Propriétaires du Québec supports the adoption of section 1 with a legislative amendment so that only future buildings are subject to it. As this bill would have an impact on all existing leases for taxable buildings of less than five years or even all real-estate projects planned and/or started with the current five-year period without indicating a maximum amount, the Association des Propriétaires du Québec (APQ) asks that the bill cannot be retroactive and would therefore not be applied to new and refurbished buildings that have been delivered, planned and/or started in construction at the time and on the date the Bill comes into force.
• By adding sections, abolish the G clause of the lease and thus allow the free market to operate.
• That the paragraphs of the bill dealing with notices of repossession and evictions be removed in order to maintain the current status quo and not penalize all rental housing owners for a minority of refractories.
• Add a clause in Bill 31 that would legalize the security deposit when renting a dwelling.
• Add a clause in Bill 31 that would update the method of setting the rent, but especially the rate relating to major work for a return on investment of 10 to 12 years. The Association des Propriétaires du Québec (APQ) is also open to the change being made by regulatory amendment.
It is now up to the parliamentarians to study the recommendations, additions and withdrawals proposed by each organization.
We will keep you informed of the progress of this bill.
Bill 31: The APQ has stood up for the rental housing owners
