DeedWorthGuide · Quebec

Lease Assignment and Subletting in Quebec: What Changed

Last verified: July 2026

In brief — Assignment and subletting are not the same thing. Since Law 31 (2024), a landlord may refuse a lease assignment even without a serious reason: in that case the lease is terminated and the tenant is released. Subletting, by contrast, can still only be refused for a serious reason. The landlord must respond within 15 days of the notice, otherwise they are deemed to have consented.

Both mechanisms let a tenant leave a dwelling, but their effects are very different — and Law 31 reshuffled the deck for landlords.

Assignment vs subletting: the difference

Lease assignment : the tenant transfers the entire lease to another person and is released from their obligations. The assignee becomes the tenant.
Subletting : the tenant keeps the lease and remains responsible to the landlord; the subtenant occupies the dwelling for a period, then the original tenant returns.

What Law 31 changed for assignment

Previously, the landlord could only refuse an assignment for a serious reason. Since Law 31, they may refuse the assignment even without a serious reason. The consequence depends on the reason:

Refusal without a serious reason → the lease is terminated on the date the assignment was to take effect; the tenant is released.
Refusal with a serious reason → the lease stays in force and the tenant remains bound.

In practice, a landlord who refuses an assignment recovers the dwelling (the tenant leaves) rather than inheriting the assignee. This is a significant shift in rent-setting dynamics between two tenants.

Subletting has not changed

For a sublet, the landlord can still only refuse for a serious reason (for example, a subtenant unable to pay or unlikely to meet their obligations).

Deadlines and procedure

The tenant notifies the landlord of their intent (assignment or sublet), stating the person's name and address. The landlord has 15 days from receiving the notice to respond. If they do not respond within that time, they are deemed to have consented. The landlord may claim reimbursement of reasonable expenses related to the assignment or sublet.

Why it matters for a landlord

Since Law 31, refusing an assignment is a legitimate lever to bring a unit back to market between tenants — a parameter that shapes your rent trajectory. Model this effect in your analysis rather than discovering it after buying. Analyze a property with DeedWorth →

FAQ

What is the difference between lease assignment and subletting? In an assignment, the tenant transfers the entire lease and is released from their obligations. In a sublet, they keep the lease and remain responsible to the landlord.

Can a landlord refuse a lease assignment in Quebec? Since Law 31 (2024), yes, even without a serious reason. If they refuse without a serious reason, the lease is terminated and the tenant is released; if they refuse with a serious reason, the lease remains.

What is the deadline to respond to an assignment or sublet notice? 15 days from receiving the notice. After that, with no response, the landlord is deemed to have consented.

Can the landlord refuse a sublet? Only for a serious reason; this did not change with Law 31.

For information only, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm your situation with the Tribunal administratif du logement or a professional. Last verified: July 2026.