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Living Housing
Traditionally, one of Montreal’s longstanding selling points has been the plethora of awesome, affordable lodgings throughout the city. In the last few years, of course, the Plateau region has seen its vacancy rates tumble, leading to duke-’em-up battles among desperate apartment seekers and significant rent hikes. And now, with Montreal’s overall vacancy rate down to less than one per cent-its lowest in 16 years-this formerly localized battle is spreading throughout the city. Still, with a bit of determination and flexibility, decent digs might still be found. McGill Off-Campus Housing Computer Housing listings for McGill students with valid student numbers. Online is best, as it is updated daily: www.residences.mcgill.ca/offcampus. Or ask for a print-out at their office at 3641 University (in the basement), Mon–Fri, 9am–5pm, 398-6010. Up-to-date listings will also be e-mailed to you if you e-mail them at: offcampus@residences.lan.mcgill.ca Concordia Off-Campus Housing and Job Bank Jobs and apartment listings. Online is best, as it is updated almost every day. http://alcor.concordia.ca/~housjob. Or you can go in person-with valid Concordia ID-to 1455 de Maisonneuve W. (Hall bldg.) #H260 (mezzanine), 848-7476. Open Mon–Thu, 10am–6pm; Friday 11am–4pm. Posted listings are updated only once per week but current printouts will be provided if you ask. NDG Info Depot This user-oriented project of the NDG Community Council is an information centre on low-cost housing, welfare and more. 2121 Oxford (at de Maisonneuve), Wednesdays and Fridays, 10am–3pm, 483-5346 Government subsidized
housing
With over 8,000 people currently on the waiting
lists for subsidized housing, this formerly viable option might not
be as fruitful, but everything’s worth a try. Office municipal d’habitation de Montréal (OMHM) Has about 20,000 subsidized rental units, offered to those below the poverty line. Full-time students are not eligible unless they have children. But remember it can take up to two and half years to get an apartment. Three branches: east Montreal 872-2235, central Montreal 872-2277, west Montreal 872-3368 Co-ops
Fédération des coopératives d’habitation de l’Île de Montréal (FÉCHIM) Represents co-op members and provides the master list of the roughly 500 housing co-ops on the Island of Montreal. They’ll provide this either in person or by mail. For mail, send a cheque or money order for $7 to FÉCHIM, 1000 Amherst #201, H2L 3K5. Include your name, address and phone number. You can also call to check the dates for upcoming information sessions, offered in French. Currently most co-ops having waiting lists of more than 100 names. Open Mon–Fri, 9am–5pm, service slow at lunchtime, 843-6929 Tenant’s
rights
Keeping abreast of your rights and obligations is even more advisable in today’s housing crunch, and recently some changes have been made to Quebec’s tenant-landlord legislation. Under the new rules, if a landlord files at the Régie (rental board) to recover unpaid rent or to evict a tenant for non-payment, the tenant must contest this claim in writing at the Régie within 10 days. If you don’t, a clerk can make a decision based solely on the landlord’s sworn statement and the documents in their file. On the plus side, you can now avoid eviction by paying the rent you owe before the Régie’s decision “becomes enforceable,” instead of “before judgement.” By and large, tenants now have one month from the date of judgment to pay up. It’s also good to keep in mind that Quebec leases make you and your roommates “jointly and severally responsible” for paying the rent and generally keeping your apartment in the condition you got it. Second, it’s a good idea to get any promises your landlord makes or other agreements between you on paper. There are many salient points worth having under your hat, and a number of places to seek advice. Régie de logement This is a regional body of the Quebec government that exists to resolve landlord-tenant disputes in a court-like process. It also provides basic information on tenants’ and landlords’ rights and obligations. They’ll give you a general overview of what you can apply for and do, without getting into specifics. They also have a publicly accessible computer database of all previous Régie decisions, which means you can study your landlord before signing or messing with him or her. Re-read your lease and gather all relevant documents before attempting to deal with rental disputes. Contacting any of the following organizations before creating an open conflict or starting an official process is highly recommended. 5199 Sherbrooke E. #2095, 873-2245, www.rdl.gouv.qc.ca Arnold Bennett’s Housing Hotline Bennett’s name has become synonymous with tenants’ rights in Montreal. His Tenants’ Advisory Clinic is every Sat from 11am–1pm at 5584A Sherbrooke W., Sun at 11am–1pm at the downtown YMCA, Rm 516 (1440 Stanley). Hotline is open weekdays from 9am–9pm, call 488-0412/990-0190 Le Regroupement des comités logements et associations de locataires du Québec is an umbrella organization that can inform you of the Comité de logement closest to you. Each Comité offers information and advice on how to deal with housing problems such as discrimination, insects and unreasonable rent increases. Call 521-7114 to get the local member group closest to you, or you can contact them directly:
Other housing groups
Project Genesis Open Mon–Wed, 9am–5pm; Thur 9am–7pm; Fri 9am–3pm. A community activist group focusing on housing issues, particularly in Côte-des-Neiges. Offers services in English, French, Spanish, Mandarin, Russian, Arabic, German, Greek, Italian, Dutch and Yiddish. 4735 Côte-Ste-Catherine, corner Victoria. 738-2036 L’OEIL de Côte-des-Neiges Advice on landlord-tenant disputes and issues. Open on a walk-in basis Mon 9:30am–12pm, Wed 9:30am–12pm and 2–5pm, Fri 9:30am–12pm, or call to make an appointment for other times. 3600 Barclay #344 (metro Côte-des-Neiges then take 165 or 535 bus north to Barclay), 738-0101 NDG Community Council Landlord-tenant advice. Open Mon–Fri 9am–12:30pm and 1:30–5pm. 6580 Sherbrooke W., 484-1471 Other useful numbers
City of Montreal Public Works Department Provides information about garbage collection, recycling, sidewalk repairs, information on drinking water and a schedule of dangerous materials collection etc. Call 872-3434 or follow the appropriate links at http://servicesenligne.ville.montreal.qc.ca for fairly comprehensive coverage of these and other city services. Tandem Montreal is a city-run crime-prevention service that sets up neighbourhood-watch programs and offers information and advice on home security. Call 872-1274 to find the one nearest you. Access Montreal Storefront bureaucracy! Basically an agency set up by the city to allow Montreal residents to take care of business like paying taxes or tickets without going all the way down to city hall. The telephone information service is 24 hours, and gives the addresses of their 13 offices and info on other available services. The Access Montreal membership/discount card costs $5 and entitles you discounts on both city and partner services-from tennis court rental to Centaur theatre tickets. You need to prove you’re a Montreal resident to get one. Call 87-ACCES 24/7 or 872-1111, Mon–Fri, 8am–5pm Communications Québec Offers info on Quebec government programs and services. Call 873-2111, or for more complete info but limited English options, check out their Web site at www.comm-qc.gouv.qc.ca O Canada Toll-free info service giving names and office numbers of Government of Canada employees, services and departments. 1-800-622-6232 (1-800-O-Canada) or check out http://canada.gc.ca |
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