The price of rents in Quebec has jumped again, this time by 9% to reach an average of $1,300 per month, according to a recent study by the Regroupement des Comités Logements et Associations de Tenants du Québec (RCLALQ) released on Saturday. .

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By analyzing more than 51,000 listings of housing for rent on Kijiji, the RCLALQ was able to observe that the surge in rental prices is accelerating throughout Quebec. Thus, the average rent increased particularly in the census metropolitan areas (CMAs) of Saguenay (18.7%), Sherbrooke (26.5%) and Trois-Rivières (29.9%).

“What worries us with these data is that regions where rents had remained relatively accessible are now very strongly affected by significant increases,” lamented Marjolaine Deneault, spokesperson for the RCLALQ, adding that people risk resign themselves to living in unsanitary or too small housing.

According to the study conducted by the RCLALQ, the gap between average rents (data from surveys by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation – CMHC) and rental rents is widening. So much so that there is now a 50% gap between them in the province.

As the provincial elections are fast approaching, the RCLALQ is asking the various parties to introduce measures to control housing prices.

“Currently, the burden of preventing an abusive increase rests on the tenant. This means that the limitation of rent increases and the protection of affordable rental stock are not based on a legislative framework, but on individual steps taken by tenants, in a context that puts them at a distinct disadvantage. As well say that the rental market is completely uncontrolled,” explained Ms. Deneault.