Signing the lease: payment of rent

MONTREAL, March 6, 2015 /CNW Telbec/ - The Régie du logement would like to take advantage of this period, when many people sign a new lease, to remind you of certain rules concerning the payment of rent, which is the tenant's main obligation.

When the lease is signed, the lessor may require the tenant to make the first rent payment and even make that a condition for signing the lease. For example, if on April 1, 2015, you sign a lease that takes effect on July 1, the lessor might require you to pay rent for the month of July at the time you sign the lease on April 1.

However, the lessor cannot require more than that, for example, a deposit for the keys to the dwelling or as a safeguard against damage the tenant may cause.

For all the other months, the rent is payable in full on the date agreed upon in the lease or, if there is no such stipulation in the lease, the first day of each month. Rent that is not paid on the day agreed upon is considered late. The Régie du logement wishes to specify that, if the rent is paid more than three weeks late, the lessor can apply to terminate the lease. An application for termination can also be submitted if the tenant often pays the rent late and if the lessor suffers serious prejudice because of that.

The rent can be paid in cash, by postal money order, electronic bank transfer or certified cheque. If the lessor agrees, the rent can also be paid by regular cheque. The lessor cannot require the tenant to provide a series of postdated cheques. However, that method of payment can be agreed upon between the parties.

Unless the parties agree otherwise, the lessor collects the rent at the tenant's dwelling. In exchange for each payment, the tenant has the right to require a receipt or an acknowledgment of receipt from the lessor.

The Régie du logement is the tribunal with exclusive jurisdiction over rental housing in Québec.

SOURCE Régie du logement

For any additional information, consult the Régie du logement's Website at www.rdl.gouv.qc.ca or call the Régie: Montréal, Laval and Longueuil region, [phone] (BAIL); Other regions, 1 800 683-2245 (BAIL)