Régie du logement: it became the Tribunal administratif du logement (TAL)
In brief
The Régie du logement became the Tribunal administratif du logement on August 31, 2020. The old name “régie du logement” is still widely used, but it's the same tribunal: same recourses, same offices, same forms, now with online services. So there's nothing to look for elsewhere: you're in the right place.
If you're looking for the “Régie du logement,” you're really looking for the Tribunal administratif du logement (TAL). The change is a change of name, not of mission. Here's what that means in practice for a tenant or a landlord, and the step that almost always comes before filing an application.
A change of name, not of tribunal
The Régie du logement became the Tribunal administratif du logement on August 31, 2020. It's the same body, with the same jurisdiction over disputes between tenants and landlords: setting and reviewing rent, non-payment, repossession, repairs, lease resiliation, neighbour disturbances. A file opened “at the Régie” continued at the TAL with nothing lost.
The name “régie du logement” still circulates in everyday language, in older leases and in many searches. That's normal, and it changes nothing about your rights: the recourses and deadlines set by the Civil Code of Québec are exactly the same as before.
What changed in practice
For most of what you'll do, nothing changed. The new elements are mainly the name and access:
- The name: “Tribunal administratif du logement” (TAL) replaces “Régie du logement.”
- Online services: several applications and file follow-ups are now handled through the TAL's website.
- Recourses, forms and offices: unchanged in function: only the letterhead changed.
Where to find its offices
The TAL keeps offices across Québec, as the Régie du logement did before it. You can consult the list of offices and the service point for your region, then check the address and contact details before travelling or filing an application.
What to do before filing an application
Before turning to the TAL, it's often decisive to have first written to the other party asking them to comply: that's the demand letter (mise en demeure). It isn't required for every application, but it shows your good faith, leaves a dated record of what you asked for and, for several recourses, puts the other party in default. Many disputes settle at this stage, without a hearing.
With Locato, you fill in a free template grounded in the Civil Code, then send it by certified email with timestamped proof of receipt, for $14.99. If the dispute continues, that proof becomes a document in your TAL file.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Régie du logement still exist?
Not under that name. The Régie du logement became the Tribunal administratif du logement (TAL) on August 31, 2020. The body still exists and performs the same functions; only its name changed. Searches and references to the “régie du logement” now lead you to the TAL.
Is it the same tribunal?
Yes. It's the same tribunal, with the same jurisdiction over housing disputes between tenants and landlords. The recourses, deadlines and rights set by the Civil Code of Québec are unchanged. The transition lost no files: a file opened at the Régie continued at the TAL.
How do I file an application?
You file your application with the Tribunal administratif du logement, online or at a service point. Before filing, it's generally recommended to have sent a demand letter to the other party: it shows your good faith and, for several recourses, puts them in default. This article provides general information and does not constitute legal advice.