Property managers, get ready for moving season!
Every year, on July 1st, Quebec moves to the rhythm of moving season. For tenants, it means the stress of relocating. For you, as a property manager, it’s a whole different reality: lease endings, coordinating inspections, prepping units, welcoming new tenants… everything happens at once.
We’ve put together this practical guide to help you anticipate the operational challenges of moving season in Quebec.
July 1st: a unique challenge for property management in Quebec
In Quebec, the vast majority of residential leases end on June 30, which concentrates a huge share of moves into a window of just a few days. That means between 200,000 and 250,000 households change homes around July 1st across the province.
For property managers and building owners, this means:
- dozens of units to inspect;
- repairs to coordinate between tenants;
- renewal notices that must be sent within TAL deadlines;
- new leases to sign;
- service calls piling up;
- etc.
Poor management during this period can lead to avoidable costs with just a bit of preparation.
The 5 main operational challenges of moving season
Although July 1st is the official moving day for most Quebecers, for property managers, preparation starts well in advance. Here are the five key operational challenges to anticipate.
Complying with legal deadlines for lease renewal notices
In Quebec, lease renewals are governed by the Civil Code and administered by the Administrative Housing Tribunal (TAL). For leases of 12 months or more, the manager must send a renewal notice or rent increase notice between three and six months before the lease ends. Once the notice is sent, the tenant has one month to accept, refuse, or notify that they will vacate at the end of the lease. In case of refusal, the landlord must file with the TAL within the following month; otherwise, the lease renews under the same conditions.
Minimizing vacancy between tenants
Vacancy rates have remained historically low in Quebec in recent years. In 2025, it stood at 2.7% (Statistics Quebec). In today’s context, finding a tenant is usually not the issue—but finding a good tenant can be.
During moving season, tenant turnover peaks and the window between leases is short. To minimize vacancy without sacrificing quality, listings should go live as soon as you receive a non-renewal notice. To avoid problematic tenants, don’t neglect pre-rental screening.
Coordinating repairs and unit turnover
As soon as a tenant gives notice, the clock starts. You have a few weeks—or sometimes months—to plan unit turnover before the next tenant arrives. It sounds like a lot of time, but when several units turn over simultaneously around July 1st, logistics become intense.
The real challenge: your painters, plumbers, and cleaning teams are also at full capacity in June–July. Without early booking, you’ll be waiting—and meanwhile, vacant units generate no income.
Best practices:
- Visit units before the tenant leaves (24-hour notice required) to assess the scope of work
- Book suppliers and subcontractors early
- Centralize work order tracking for each unit. A missed task can mean a new tenant moving into an unready unit.
Managing move-in and move-out inspections
You are legally required to provide a habitable unit to new tenants. According to theAssociation des propriétaires du Québec, about 1 in 3 tenants leaves their unit in a condition requiring intervention.
It’s strongly recommended to conduct detailed inspections both at move-out and move-in, with photo documentation. This protects you in case of disputes before the TAL.
Handling the surge in tenant communications
During moving season, communications surge on both sides.
On the outgoing side: questions about key handovers, the condition of the unit, and timelines.
On the incoming side: move-in date confirmations, information about the unit, and service requests starting from day one.
A strong onboarding experience makes a big difference.
At key handover, provide:
- emergency and service contacts
- location of the main water shut-off
- garbage, recycling, and compost schedule
- building rules (pets, parking, noise)
It’s also the right time to send all residents a notice about moving rules: elevator usage, protection of common areas, permitted time slots, and truck parking. A message sent a few weeks before July 1st prevents a lot of friction on moving day.
Action plan: what every property manager should do before June 30
Here are the key steps, in order.
January to March
- Send lease renewal notices and rent increases within TAL deadlines
- Identify units becoming vacant on June 30
- Start selecting new tenants
- Prepare and send RL-31 slips before the end of February
April to May
- List available units as soon as non-renewal notices are received
- Book suppliers and subcontractors for turnover work
- Schedule preventive visits for vacant units (24-hour notice)
- Sign new leases (mandatory TAL lease form, paper or electronic)
June
- Coordinate repairs and cleaning
- Send a building-wide moving notice
- Prepare welcome documents for new tenants
June 30 / July 1
- Be present (or represented) for key handovers and inspections
- Document unit condition with photos
- Welcome new tenants and provide essential information
Hopem software: navigate moving season without chaos
For over 40 years, Hopem has supported property managers and rental property owners in Quebec with solutions tailored to their reality.
With Hopem, you can:
- track leases, renewal notices, and rent increases in real time
- manage service calls and work orders centrally
- automate billing and payments
- sign leases electronically
- get a clear overview of your entire portfolio
The Hopem Manager app adds mobility. Your field teams receive and track tasks from their phones, tenants communicate via built-in chat, receive notices, and submit service requests, without calling.
