Moving out means: Taking all your belongings out of the dwelling you are leaving, with you!
Montreal, June 26, 2025 --- The Association des Propriétaires du Québec (APQ) notes that year after year, some tenants neglect their obligations until the end of the lease.
The last obligation of a tenant at the end of his lease is to leave his now “previous” housing in good condition and not to use it as an eco-centre or a giant garbage basket.
This obligation is very clearly written in Section 1978 of the Civil Code of Québec:
1978. The lessee, on resiliation of the lease or when he vacates the dwelling, shall leave it free of all movable effects except those which belong to the lessor. If the lessee leaves movable effects at the end of the lease or after abandoning the dwelling, the lessor may dispose of them in accordance with the rules prescribed in the Book on Property which apply to the holder of property entrusted and forgotten.
“Is it laziness, because it’s easy, or to annoy their landlord, or all three simultaneously, there is no reason not to respect one’s obligations even when the lease is terminated. More and more tenants are abandoning what they no longer want, emptying the contents of the fridge into the kitchen sink (fridge that they will take with them), as if it were not a big deal, because the others supposedly will do it also,” says Martin Messier, President of the APQ.
The Association des propriétaires du Québec (APQ) reminds tenants that Moving out means Taking all your belongings with you, out of a dwelling!
- Furniture you no longer want? Broken objects and/or damaged furniture? Have you bought new household appliances?
We repeat, NO REASON justifies considering your now former housing as a donation centre or an eco-centre.
In order to minimize this growing phenomenon, the Association des propriétaires du Québec (APQ) has produced a poster to be printed and displayed in the buildings.
In addition to this most important reminder, tenants will be able to find some useful links to recycle, deposit, and get rid of what is no longer usable appropriately.
This poster is available on the APQ website at https://www.apq.org/services-apq/demenagements/
"We also invite all rental housing owners struggling with these illegal dumps to consult this page because you will also find advice on the support required during a move and a training video to guide you,” concludes the APQ.
The page entitled "Moving" lists the essential APQ tools to consult right now:
1) APQ Reflections: Moving - The pandemic has forced us to plan more!
2) Posters to print and install in your buildings (Moving out means taking all your belongings out of a dwelling).
3) Training video (Moving - Everyone's rights and obligations)
The Association des propriétaires du Québec (APQ) has always been happy and proud to support rental housing owners since 1984.