Montreal adopts motion calling on Quebec to cap rent hikes, create mandatory rent registry

The City of Montreal wants to put a ceiling on rent hikes. That's why at a recent Municipal City Council meeting, Projet Montréal pushed to ask the Government of Quebec for a province-wide rent registry to better track rent. Despite it being a motion from the official opposition, it was adopted. Additionally, the City is asking the province cap rent increases to inflation over a three-year average to better control rent prices. The motion says that a majority of landlords don't publicize the rent prices of previous renters. That's not quite what the study the city referred to says. The Vivre en Ville study mentions that 79 percent of renters either weren't aware or their landlords didn't fill out Section G, the section in which previous rent prices must be disclosed. The motion, though, is still a breath of fresh air for housing advocacy group RACLAC. It's going to shift the reality and it's going to make sure that it becomes universal and that the rent registry will actually help enforce the law. However, a landlord advocacy group says the province already has enough safeguards in place, such as the Tribunal Administratif du Logement. It says a registry would have actually an opposite effect. It's to hold maintenance without lowering overall market pressures. So the real solution is really to help the people providing direct financial assistance and housing allowances to low-income households. The talk of creating a registry has been happening for years. But remember, only a motion has passed. So this is far from the real thing. A city official says the newly elected Parti Québécois has made housing a priority. But despite years of proposals about registries with limited results, Now it's time to act. The fact that we are together, it's a strong message to Quebec. Meanwhile, Relier treads with caution. They ask for trust in general, and this government asks for even more trust. But what we've seen is that it's rarely the case. Setting up new programs is tricky, and particularly ones that would require a certain amount of coordination. Meanwhile, the city will continue to fund the Vivre en Ville Municipal Registry until it hopes a provincial one comes in.