If you’re renting in Quebec and worried a landlord might try to lock you out, it’s essential to understand your legal rights and protections. Quebec’s rental laws provide strong safeguards for tenants, so knowing exactly what your landlord can and cannot do will help you protect your home and peace of mind.

Is It Legal for a Landlord to Lock Out a Tenant in Quebec?

No. In almost all cases, it is illegal for a landlord to lock a tenant out of their rental unit in Quebec, even if there is unpaid rent or a dispute. The Quebec Civil Code sets out strict rules: eviction can only occur through a formal process supervised by the Tribunal administratif du logement (TAL)—Quebec’s housing tribunal. Self-help evictions, including changing the locks or barring access, are not allowed.¹

What Is the Proper Eviction Process?

Eviction must always go through the TAL, and tenants are entitled to due process, including advance written notice and an opportunity to respond. Here is a summary of the standard eviction process:

• Written Notice: The landlord must serve a written notice of eviction specifying the reason and the date when the tenancy will end.
• Application to TAL: If the tenant refuses to leave or disputes the eviction, the landlord must file an application with the Tribunal administratif du logement.
• Tribunal Hearing: Both parties have a right to present their case at a hearing.
• Order of Eviction: Only if the TAL grants an eviction order can the landlord proceed. If necessary, a bailiff (not the landlord) can enforce the order.

If your landlord locks you out without this process, it is considered an illegal eviction.

Your Key Rights if Locked Out

• Right to Possession: Your right to live in your home continues until a TAL eviction order is enforced by a bailiff.
• Right to Notice: You must receive proper notice and the opportunity to contest an eviction at the Tribunal administratif du logement.
• Protection from Reprisal: Landlords cannot retaliate by changing locks, cutting essential services, or blocking your access.

To learn more about your rights and obligations during your tenancy, see Obligations of Landlords and Tenants: Rights and Responsibilities Explained.

Forms and What to Do if You Are Locked Out

If you are unlawfully locked out by your landlord, you can immediately apply to the TAL for a provisional order (injunction) allowing you back into your home.

• Form: Request for a Provisional Order (Injunction) (Form available via TAL Official Forms)
  • When to use: File this as soon as you discover the lockout. For example, if you come home and can’t access your apartment due to a changed lock without proper process, use this form to ask for urgent help.
  • How to use: Complete the form with all details, attach any evidence (photos of the lock, messages from landlord), and submit it in person at your local TAL office or online through their portal. You may request same-day intervention if you have no access, as this is considered urgent.
  • Download the request for a provisional order

What Can Tenants Do in an Emergency Lockout?

If you are locked out and unable to reach your landlord, contact local legal clinics or tenant advocacy organizations for help. In addition, alert the local police if you are worried about your personal belongings or your safety. However, only a bailiff—never the landlord—can physically remove a tenant after a legal eviction.

Can My Landlord Change the Locks?

Landlords in Quebec are allowed to change the locks only if:

• You specifically request a lock change, or
• The landlord informs you and provides you with a copy of the new key immediately.

Changing the locks without your consent or without a legal eviction order is not permitted.

Consequences for Landlords Who Lock Out Tenants

If a landlord locks out a tenant illegally, the TAL can:

• Order immediate reinstatement of the tenant
• Require the landlord to pay damages to the tenant for inconvenience or harm suffered
• Impose additional penalties under Quebec law

For more on the legal framework for tenants and landlords in your province, visit the Tenant Rights and Landlord Rights in Quebec page.

Looking to move or compare rentals elsewhere? Find rental homes across Canada on Houseme—it’s easy to use and covers cities nationwide.

Common Issues Related to Lockouts and Tenancy

• Disagreements over rent payment
• Maintenance problems or repair disputes
• Entering the unit without proper notice

For more information on handling general conflicts, check Common Issues Tenants Face and How to Resolve Them.

FAQs: Tenant Rights and Lockouts in Quebec

1. Can my landlord lock me out if I haven’t paid rent?
   No. Even if rent is overdue, your landlord must follow the eviction process through the Tribunal administratif du logement. Only a bailiff with a Tribunal order can enforce an eviction.
2. What should I do if I’m locked out illegally?
   File a Request for a Provisional Order (Injunction) at the TAL as soon as possible. You can also contact local tenant advocacy organizations for guidance.
3. Are there exceptions where a landlord can deny access?
   In rare situations where there’s immediate danger (e.g., building safety risks), access could be temporarily denied. But permanent denial is only allowed after a legal eviction.
4. Can a landlord disconnect utilities to force me out?
   No. Shutting off essential services like heat or water to evict a tenant is illegal and subject to severe penalties.

Summary: What Tenants in Quebec Need to Know

• Landlords cannot lock out a tenant without a formal order from the Tribunal administratif du logement.
• If locked out, act quickly using the TAL’s provisional order process, and keep all evidence.
• Understand your rights and always seek help from the Tribunal or a tenant advocate if you’re at risk.

Understanding these rules helps tenants stay protected and respond confidently to any threat of illegal eviction or lockout.

Need Help? Resources for Tenants

• Tribunal administratif du logement (TAL) – Official Tribunal for Rental Disputes
• Éducaloi – Legal Information for Quebec Tenants
• Regroupement des comités logement et associations de locataires du Québec (RCLALQ) – Tenant Support and Advocacy (français)
• Quebec Government: Renting Information and Support

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1. Civil Code of Québec, Division II (Leases of Dwellings), see the relevant legislation here.
2. Tribunal administratif du logement (TAL), official website.
3. Quebec government housing portal: Official renting guide.

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