Apartment by-Laws

Following bylaws need to be respected by the tenant(s) and the landlord.

Since you may be new to the laws of Quebec and municipalities bylaws, a few bullet points have been prepared as below: 

1. PLEASE NOTE that all the tenants have the obligation of cleaning the apartment prior to their leave, but it's the responsibility of the new tenants to make sure the previous tenants fulfilled their obligation before the keys exchange. Please be advised that we will not be accepting any requests regarding the cleanliness. 

2. For the furnished apartments, list of the items are as below:

   • • Appliances: Fridge, Stove, Microwave, Washer / Dryer

     • Living room: 1 sofa, 1 dining table and dining chairs for the number of the tenants in the unit

     • Bathroom: None

     • Balcony: None

     • Rooms : Built-in or external closet, bed frame, mattress, desk and one chair 

*The expected monthly cost for furniture in a furnished apartment is $50 per room per month (including appliances). 

3. If the apartment is furnished, all items must be returned in the same condition as they were provided at the start of the lease (unknown cause of damage – 50% charge; manufacturer defect – landlord assumes full cost of replacement; abuse – tenant assumes full cost of replacement)

4. Tenants are not allowed to change the door lock or add an additional one.

5. The tenant(s) is/are responsible for cleaning and removing snow from the stairs and balconies

6. The tenants are jointly and severally responsible for the payment of the rent.

7. If the apartment is furnished, furniture must be returned to the landlord in a clean condition (wear and tear excluded). Tenants are not allowed to install their own washer/dryer/dishwasher, inside their unit.

8. Tenants are required to promptly report any damages to the property to minimize their extent, as prolonging the issue may lead to the tenants being held responsible for covering the repair costs incurred as a result. 

9. The tenant is responsible for ensuring proper ventilation in the bedroom during periods of extreme humidity caused by weather conditions. Additionally, any damages incurred to the property or its furniture shall be the tenant's responsibility to repair or replace 

10. Tenants must verify the collecting day for recycles, garbage and perishables using the following website: https://servicesenligne2.ville.montreal.qc.ca/sel/infocollectes/?lang=en and only leave the garbage / recycle / perishables in those days. Any fines caused by neglecting the days specified in link above will be transferred to the tenant(s).

11. To maintain the peace in your area, no excessive noise is allowed before 7:00 and after 20:00 from Monday to Friday. On Saturdays and Sundays, noise is limited before 10:00 PM and after 4:00 PM.

12. It is absolutely prohibited to go on the roof of the building.

13. The tenant(s) must keep the temperature of the dwelling at a minimum of 15 degrees Celsius in order to avoid freezing pipes. If found negligent of this condition, they will be held responsible for any resulting damages.

14. If heating is included in the rent, during the winter months (December-March), windows cannot be left open for longer than 5 minutes.

15. Any damage caused to the dwelling by the tenant(s) must be paid or repaired by the tenant(s). This includes clogged toilets/bathtubs, unless there is a plumbing issue (see page 2 for pricing). Any damages caused by third parties, not affiliated with the landlord, shall be the responsibility of the tenant(s). This includes broken windows and doors.

16. Emergency service requests will be addressed ASAP while non-emergency requests may take a few days.

17. New window and window screens will not be installed on windows where one isn’t already present. Only existing screens will be maintained.

18. To avoid any rodent entry to the apartment, please keep the entrance , backyard and balcony doors closed all the time

19. The landlord shall provide extermination services in case of infestation. However, if the dwelling is found to be unclean in regards to food being left in the open, the tenant (s) may be charged for extermination services.

20. In the event of any damage, including but not limited to floods, robberies, or any uncontrollable incidents that may result in harm to the personal belongings of the tenants, the landlord shall bear no responsibility. Tenants are strongly encouraged to procure tenant insurance to safeguard against such potential damages

21. The tenant(s) is/are responsible for their own keys. The landlord is not obliged to immediately provide a replacement for a lost/forgotten key. The landlord will not be financially responsible for any locksmith called upon to unlock a door. Please see back for charges related to locks and keys.

22. Any subletting/assignment request must first be approved by the landlord, who should be given the proper time notice.

23. Short-term rentals by the tenant(s), such as Airbnb, are absolutely prohibited.

24. Any painting done in the dwelling must be authorized and approved by the landlord. The tenants are allowed two holes per room (including hallways and bathrooms) from which to hang items.

25. There are no pets allowed in the apartment unless approved by the landlord.

26. Please note that cleaning the Dryer filter, Washing machine filter (coin trap) as well as cleaning the dishwasher filter is tenants responsibility and any damage caused by negligence and unclean filters, will be repaired on tenants cost.

27. If the internet is included in the rent, the owner only has the responsibility of purchasing the service with proper quality and the speed (15mbps per roommate) and any other issues such as WiFi coverage or service interruption won’t be the owner’s responsibility. The tenant is responsible for installing additional equipment to mitigate that issue.

28. Where internet is provided by owner, illegal download of copyrighted content is strictly prohibited

29. Apartments are rented as complete units; individual rooms are not rented as designated bedrooms. Tenants may use and furnish each room for any lawful residential purpose, including but not limited to use as a bedroom

30. When tenant(s) are moving out:

    • have the obligation of cleaning the apartment and safely packaging all disposables. (https://tinyurl.com/MTLRents-Cleaningchecklist )

    • Upon move-out, it is mandatory for tenants to surrender the keys to one of our authorized representatives.

    • It should be noted that in the event the apartment is not returned in a clean and vacant condition, as outlined in the attached checklist, an additional service fee will be applied. (minimum charge of $500).

31. Please, be aware that we will EXCLUSIVELY consider maintenance requests focused on repair to maintain the current status quo; any other requests will be disregarded

32. Please be advised that the rent is payable on the first day of each month, and in the event of a delayed payment, an administrative fee will be assessed as follows: 

    • For payments made between 1 to 5 days late, a fee of $50 will be incurred.

    • For payments made between 6 to 10 days late, a fee of $150 will be incurred.

    • For payments made between 11 to 21 days late, a fee of $300 will be incurred.

33. NO SMOKING is allowed inside the apartment or the building.

34. No BBQs or any type of pit fires are permitted within the apartment premises, including but not limited to the backyard, front yard, or any outdoor area. This restriction applies to all tenants and residents of the apartment complex

35. Tenants with access to a backyard are responsible for the cleanliness and maintenance of said backyard area. This includes the removal of any junk, debris, or waste materials. Failure to maintain a clean backyard may result in penalties or additional charges as determined by the landlord or management

36. The landlord reserves the right to update the front door lock to a digital one.

37. The responsibility for addressing water quality of the municipality's water supply will not fall upon the landlord. Tenants are advised to obtain a water filter pitcher to address their concerns.

38. IT IS STRICTLY FORBIDDEN TO SMOKE WEEDS IN THE BUILDING AREA (including backyard).

39. Balconies can accommodate only two people at a time. Please, for your own safety, adhere to this policy.

40. In the event of a bed bug infestation occurring within one (1) month from the date of tenant occupancy, the responsibility for bed bug extermination shall be borne by the landlord. The landlord will promptly initiate and cover the costs associated with the extermination process. If a bed bug infestation occurs more than one (1) month after the tenant's initial move-in date, the responsibility for bed bug extermination shall rest upon the tenant. The tenant is required to promptly notify the landlord of the infestation and arrange for the extermination process, at their own expense

41. Prohibition of Bed Leg Extensions: The use of bed leg extensions is strictly prohibited in the property. Any damages caused by the installation, use, or removal of bed leg extensions will be the sole responsibility of the tenant(s). The tenant(s) will be held liable for the cost of repairs or replacements resulting from such damages

42. Fair Usage Policy for Utilities: For properties where utilities (electricity, internet, water, and gas) are included in the lease agreement, tenants are required to adhere to a fair usage policy. The allocated annual usage limit for all utilities combined is specified as a dollar amount in the lease agreement. If the total utility usage by the tenant(s) exceeds this dollar limit within the lease period, the property management company reserves the right to invoice the tenant(s) for the excess amount. The tenant(s) agree to pay the difference upon receiving such an invoice.

43. Disclaimer Regarding Utility Services: While services such as electricity, water, internet, and natural gas are included in your rent, the property owner or manager is not legally responsible for the quality, continuity, or reliability of these services. These utilities are provided by external companies, and any disruptions or issues with their provision are beyond our control. However, the property management team is committed to supporting tenants by promptly communicating with service providers and advocating on your behalf to resolve any issues as quickly as possible

44. Maintenance and Repair Requests: All maintenance and repair requests must be submitted exclusively through the designated online portal (Repair.MTLRents.com) . Requests made via email, text, phone calls, or verbal communication will not be acknowledged or processed.

45. Response Time for Requests: Non-urgent issues reported through the portal may take up to two weeks for resolution. Urgent issues will be addressed as soon as possible, typically within 24 hours. Please note that during holiday periods, the response time may be extended as previously communicated.

46. Restrictions on LED Light Strips: The installation of LED light strips is strictly prohibited. Removal of these strips may cause damage to the paint, and residents will be held financially responsible for any necessary paint repairs in rooms where LED light strips have been installed.

47. Shelf Installation Policy: Residents are not permitted to install or remove any shelves within the apartment units.

Services and Prices

The following services can be provided:

• Changing back door locks on the apartment (80$, includes service, deadbolt lock and keys)

• The following services must and will be provided by the landlord, given the circumstances, and the tenant will be charged accordingly:

  • Cleaning services upon tenant’s failure to provide a presentable apartment when given 24-hour notice of a showing (equivalent to 10% of total rent)

  • Maintenance services for clogged sinks or toilets if cause is due to tenant’s negligence (80$ service fee) [this won’t be applied in the first 30 days of lease]

  • Painting and/or plastering due to unapproved painting by tenants or the creation of more holes in the walls than permitted (100-150$ per wall)

WASHER AND DRYER, DISHWASHER tenant responsibilities

1. Tenants are responsible for overall hygiene of the appliances

2. Tenants have to clean the filter for Dishwasher, Washer coin trap and Dryer Lint filter regularly, any cost of any reparation caused by un-cleaned filters, will be transferred to the tenants

   • How to clean the washer filter: https://www.wikihow.com/Clean-a-Washing-Machine-Filter 

   • How to clean dishwasher filter:https://www.wikihow.com/Clean-a-Dishwasher-Filter 

   • How to clean dryer lint filter: Every dryer has a lint filter visible and easily detachable which HAS to be cleaned after every use!

3. PLEASE NOTE: The maximum load of the washer and dryer loads have to be half of the drum! DO NOT FILL UP the whole drum. 1 small load of laundry is when the drum is approximately 1/3 full. 1 medium load of laundry is when the drum is approximately 1/2 full.

4. Before loading the washer, inspect the load and remove any cloth or small pieces such as masks from the load to avoid the clog in drainage! ANY repairs necessary by such items causing clog will be transferred to the tenants

5. Before loading the dishwasher make sure to rinse all of the items to avoid any clog. The cost of reparation of the damage caused by such, will be transferred to the tenants.

6. Tenants will be billed for any problems resulting from negligence or issues not arising from ordinary wear and tear, such as broken doors, glass, etc.

7. To prevent mold and odors, the dishwasher and washing machine doors must be left open after use to allow adequate ventilation. Failure to follow this guideline may result in mold growth or damage, for which the tenant(s) will be held responsible. The cost of cleaning, repairs, or replacements due to improper usage will be charged to the tenant(s).