Off-campus housing

Find all the information you need to find a place to live in Québec City. Understand how the rental process works and make an informed choice when selecting an apartment that suits your needs and budget.

Accessibility of neighbourhoods in the Québec City area

The city is very spread out, and public transit isn’t equally efficient everywhere. If you want to stay close to campus and city life, look for housing near bus routes 800, 801, 804, 805, and 807 between Henri IV Boulevard and the Saint-Roch neighbourhood in downtown Québec City.

The Montcalm, Saint-Jean-Baptiste, Sainte-Foy, Saint-Roch, Saint-Sacrement, Saint-Sauveur, and Old Québec neighbourhoods are very popular among students. However, these areas are among the most expensive in the city.

Beauport, Duberger-Les Saules, Lebourgneuf, and Limoilou, as well as the south shore of Québec City (Lévis, Saint-Romuald, and Charny) are often more affordable, but are farther from Université Laval. You’ll need to plan your bus travel time accordingly.

Average rental cost

The cost of rooms in rooming houses and shared apartments varies from one neighbourhood to another. Generally speaking, you can expect to pay between $400 and $700 per month.

The average monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment is $1,213, and $1,450 for a two-bedroom apartment. These are generally unfurnished.

Tip
To save money on furniture or household items, consider buying second-hand!

Before you rent

Though it may be convenient and reassuring to reserve a room or apartment before arriving in Québec City, you should never send money to an individual before visiting the property in person or virtually, in order to avoid being defrauded. The housing you paid for may not meet your expectations (it may be very small or far from campus, have no windows, or be in very poor condition). Don’t take any unnecessary risks—tour the place before you pay!

If you plan to look for a place to live once you arrive in Québec City, make sure you have somewhere to stay while you wait for a suitable place to become available. Arrange to stay with a trusted person or ensure that you have the financial means to pay for temporary housing for several weeks.

The landlord will ask you to sign a lease to confirm your mutual commitment to the rental agreement. This is a legal contract, so you are committing to paying the rent as agreed, even if you are unable to arrive in Québec City by the start date in the lease. Therefore, if this is your first time in Québec, it is strongly recommended that you wait until you have received confirmation of your study permit before signing a lease.

Types of apartments and leases

If you rent a room, you will share common areas such as the kitchen, bathroom, laundry room, and living room with other tenants or the landlords. Usually, all furniture and appliances are provided. Renting a room is a simple and affordable option. Before signing a lease, discuss the terms with the landlord, including use of the appliances and laundry room and whether you can have visitors.

1 ½, 2 ½, 3 ½, 4 ½, etc.

In Québec, apartments are classified by the number of rooms they have. The bathroom is considered half a room.

An apartment that is furnished (“meublé” in French) includes all furniture and appliances, and sometimes basic utensils and crockery. An apartment that is semi-furnished (“semi-meublé” in French) includes only large appliances, such as refrigerator, stove, washer, and dryer. Some apartments may also have a shared laundry room. The costs of heating and electricity may be included in the rent of an apartment (“chauffé et éclairé” in French). Sometimes an apartment may have only the heating costs included in the rent (“chauffé seulement” in French). If you rent a heated apartment where the landlord controls the temperature, they are required to keep it at a minimum of 21 °C.

A shared apartment (“colocation” in French) is one that is rented by several tenants. It’s a practical way to reduce the costs (phone, Internet, heating, etc.) of an apartment. This type of rental arrangement is very common among students, and you’ll find several roommate listings on housing search websites.

A tenant who is leaving town for a short period and wants to return to their place when they come back will often offer their apartment for subletting (“sous-location” in French). People who sublet their apartments usually leave some furniture behind. Before signing a sublease agreement, make sure the apartment owner allows subletting.

The term “condominium” or “condo” (also used in French) refers to an apartment that is governed by a declaration of co-ownership. While the unit itself belongs to an individual owner, the common areas are jointly owned. Although a condominium can be available for rent (“condo locatif” in French), this type of apartment tend to be quite expensive.

An apartment located on the first floor of a building, at ground level (“rez-de-chaussée” in French).

An apartment partially located in the basement of a building (“semi-sous-sol” or “demi-sous-sol” in French). It has windows, and a significant portion of its height is above ground level.

An apartment entirely located in the basement of a building (“sous-sol” in French). It is often cheaper but can be colder, damper, and darker. It often has a separate door from the main door.

An apartment where smoking is prohibited (“non-fumeur” or “NF” in French). This prohibition often extends to the balcony or the grounds.

Choosing the right apartment: a few tips

Have you found a place that seems to meet your needs?

  1. Contact the landlord right away to find out the details, such as the number of bedrooms, what services are and aren’t included in the rent, the floor, whether the building has parking or laundry facilities, and if there is a balcony.
  2. Gather as much information as possible to avoid wasting time visiting places that aren’t right for you.
  3. Arrange to tour the apartment with the landlord or building manager during the day, when the lighting is best. If you are unable to visit in person, ask if a virtual tour is available.
  4. Make sure to inspect all the rooms and check the condition of any included appliances.
  5. If applicable, check the communal areas of the building (laundry room, storage areas, etc.).
  6. Many landlords will require a credit check or a guarantor. If this is your first time living in Canada, you will have no credit history and will therefore be unable to provide a credit report. Make sure the landlord will accept a guarantor or allow you to rent without a credit check before you begin the rental process.
  7. Make sure that a lease agreement is in place (“bail” in French). We strongly advise against renting from a landlord who does not make you sign a lease agreement. This contract is essential for protecting your rights as a tenant and lends credibility to the quality of the apartment.
     

Tips

  • Always visit an apartment before making a financial commitment or signing a lease.
  • When calculating the cost of rent, be sure to factor in essential services such as heating, electricity, insurance, transportation, and telephone service, as well as other services such as cable TV, parking, and internet service.
     

Websites to help you find an apartment or a room to rent

Please note that these websites are provided for informational purposes only to assist with your research. Université Laval offers no guarantees and does not endorse any of the addresses below, nor any advertisements listed on the websites mentioned on this page.

Signing the lease agreement

So you’ve finally found the perfect apartment. Now, there’s one last thing you need to do before moving in: sign the lease agreement (“bail” in French).

In Québec, leases generally expire on June 30 of each year. However, a lease agreement can be entered into at any time of the year and for any duration. Before signing a lease agreement, read it thoroughly from beginning to end. This is a contract between you and the landlord, and you may be required to pay penalties if you wish to terminate it.

Make sure:

  • That the lease includes all the terms discussed with the landlord
  • To fully understand which services you are responsible for paying for and which ones will be paid by the landlord
  • That the property listed in the lease is indeed the one you visited and agreed to rent
  • To understand your responsibilities if you choose to live in a shared apartment

The Act respecting the Régie du logement stipulates that you are entitled to receive a copy of the lease agreement within 10 days of signing it.

Paying rent

As a tenant, you are required to pay your monthly rent in full by the date specified in your lease agreement, which is usually the first day of each month. Landlords must also follow certain rules. For instance, they may only request the first month’s rent in advance and cannot require postdated cheques or cash deposits.

Using and maintaining the apartment

By signing a lease, the landlord agrees to provide you with a clean, functional, and well-maintained apartment. As a tenant, you agree to keep it in this condition. If the apartment you are renting has any defects (e.g., any type of damage), make sure these are listed in the lease agreement.

Getting electricity and drinking water

In Québec, electricity is provided by Hydro-Québec. If electricity charges are not included in the rent, you will need to contact Hydro-Québec to set up service.

Hydro-Québec
1 888 385-7252
www.hydroquebec.com

Tap water from the municipal water system is safe to drink, free of charge, and supplied automatically. Therefore, there is no need to purchase bottled water or contact a water company.

Renewing your lease agreement

As your lease agreement comes to an end, you will need to decide whether to stay in the same apartment or move out. Your landlord must notify you of any changes to your lease within the timeframe specified by law, which is usually 3 to 6 months before the lease agreement expires.

Once you have received the notice of lease amendment, you have one month to inform the landlord in writing whether you accept the changes, reject them but wish to remain in the same apartment, or intend to move out at the end of the lease agreement.

If you do not respond, the changes are deemed to have been accepted, and the lease agreement will be automatically renewed.

Moving out at the end of your lease agreement

If you plan to move out at the end of your lease agreement, you must provide your landlord with written notice. For a one-year lease agreement, the notice period is 3 to 6 months; otherwise, the lease agreement will be automatically renewed on the same terms. For a lease agreement with a shorter term, the notice period will be shorter.

Important – Changing address

If you move, you must notify several organizations and institutions of your new address. If you are an international student, please refer to the information on the Respecting the conditions of your stay page under the Change your address when you move tab for advice on this topic.

To learn about your rights and obligations