In the magazine “Protégez-vous” of August 2022, a new collaborator, Mathieu Charlebois, wrote an article entitled “Les portes - The Doors”. It is clear, however, that this article expresses a personal point of view that does not reflect the reality of rental housing owners. Moreover, many owners were shocked by the lack of restraint of this blog.
Several sentences relate the author’s point of view. And like any author, he is entitled to his opinion, but when this opinion exposes facts that call into question the integrity and the background of many individuals, it is advisable to put in red from the beginning of the article: Caution! This blog expresses very personal points of view which are not necessarily supported by the population at large.
It is unfortunate that these accusations can be consulted by any reader and can generate hatred towards a part of the population. And among all these readers there are owners of rental housing, very good owners who were shocked by the article.
As in all situations there are two sides to the coin. We would have appreciated it if the author of this article could have taken into account the whole situation that governs the relationship between a landlord and a tenant.
By “starting from nothing,” we actually mean “starting from a $150,000 loan from daddy”:
Indeed, many thousands of owners started from scratch, i.e., people who accumulated for years to build up a fund to buy a building. At the APQ, we talk every day to people with a regular job who, in addition to their 40-hour week, will plan renovation work when the children are in bed, or get up at midnight to deal with water damage,...
And we can also wonder about the kind of society we want: A parent cannot help his child anymore to invest in real estate? Why and how should we reproach the help given of both the one who provides it and the one who receives it?
Indeed, it is not pleasant at all having to clean a housing before one can rent it again (and make a regular income from it, before ultimately reselling the building at a profit), but have you ever tried to spend a sleepless night repeating”, for Heavens’ sake I’m going to be renovicted...” just because the owner changed two mailboxes without being asked? I do. Being a tenant in 2022 is an extremely nerve-wrecking experience.
Indeed, it is an extreme challenge also to own a rental housing in 2022.
The statistics of the Administrative Housing Tribunal (TAL) prove that year after year.
According to the latest annual report of the TAL (2020-2021), out of 51748 files, 24094 were for non-payment of rent.
Cases brought by landlords: 12424 for civil cases.
Cases brought by tenants: 7487 for civil cases.
If some landlords do not comply with the obligations, tenants can submit a file to the Administrative Housing Tribunal which will apply very strict laws.
Rental housing owners are often accused of renoviction tactics, but it is only in exceptional cases that this happens.
Moreover, with all the housing committees that exist, it is easy for any tenant to know his rights and, if necessary, to file a complaint with the Administrative Housing Tribunal (TAL).
The article ignores the fact that tenants are entitled to remain in the premises: landlords cannot terminate the lease. Yes, there are some exceptions but they are few, rare and with very restrictive conditions. So, it’s hard to imagine that landlords can abuse the situation like a new kind of real-estate cowboy bringing a modern rental Wild West up to date.
It is understandably human for the author to think that we could be better, more just, that we could change the world as it is, but the reality is often different.
As for rental housing owners, they often learn the hard way, what it is like to have a revenue- creating property as it goes with: control of rent increases, non-payment of rent, looting, tenant quarrels, lack of money for works to be done,... Why do you think the new generation, sons and daughters of rental-property owners, do not want to take over their buildings under their management?
Fortunately, there are also very beautiful stories but these are rarely told in the media.