My landlord wants to convert the building into a condominium, what are my rights?

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In detail

Three official documents mark out the conversion, and the lessee sees them in this order. First the notice of intent to convert a rental property to divided co-ownership (AV-040), given under section 52 of the Act respecting the Administrative Housing Tribunal. Then the "Application to convert a rental property to divided co-ownership" (TAL-105-E), which the owner files with the Tribunal. And, on a sale, the offer to sell (AV-050), made under section 54.7 of the same Act.

The Tribunal describes the first step this way: "Before taking any other steps, the owner must give each lessee notice, in writing and in accordance with the law, of their intent to convert the property or properties to divided co-ownership. A copy of each notice of intent to convert must be provided to the Tribunal administratif du logement." Section 52 adds a much shorter period: the lessee "must be given twenty-four hour's notice of any such visit or activity".

The notice of intent also starts the owner's clock. Section 54.1: an application for authorization "must be produced to the Tribunal by the owner within six months after the date of the notice of intent or, where such is the case, after the date of the resolution of the council of the municipality granting an exception or an authorization or the date of the certificate of the municipality …, whichever occurs last". Meanwhile section 53 limits the work that may be done: from the notice of intent, "no work may be performed without the authorization of the Tribunal except maintenance work, urgent and necessary repairs for the preservation of the immovable and work performed in the dwelling occupied by a co-owner".

If the dwelling is eventually sold, the lessee comes first, on a period of their own. Section 54.7: "The first sale of a dwelling cannot be made to any person other than the lessee unless it was first proposed to the lessee at the same price and on the same terms and conditions as those agreed with the other person." The lessee "must, within one month after receiving the offer to sell, inform the owner in writing of his decision to accept or refuse the offer; otherwise, the lessee is deemed to have refused the offer" · that month runs from the receipt of the offer. If the offer is accepted but the deed is not signed within two months, the owner may sell without offering again, "unless the deed of sale was not signed for a reason beyond the lessee's control".

What to document

The dates: of the notice, of its receipt, of each rent payment. A notice is proven by how it was sent; a payment, by the statement that carries it. The condition of the dwelling is photographed · an image carries its date, a recollection does not. And every exchange with the landlord or tenant keeps its timestamp.

Official sources

• art. 52 de la Loi sur le Tribunal administratif du logement (RLRQ c T-15.01) · read on 2026-08-09

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