What to do before a tenant leaves?
When a tenant is getting ready to leave a rental unit, many landlords wait until the last day to see the condition of the dwelling. That is often where the trouble starts. In practice, the smoothest move outs are the ones prepared in advance, documented properly, and communicated clearly. At Gestion Immobilière Souleymane, we treat this stage as a real process and not just a key handoff.
Source https://www.legisquebec.gouv.qc.ca/fr/pdf/rc/T-15.01%2C%20R.%203.pdf
Source https://www.tal.gouv.qc.ca/en/the-dwelling/access-to-the-dwelling-and-visiting-rights
Source https://www.tal.gouv.qc.ca/en/models-of-notices/
The basic legal idea is straightforward. Article 1890 of the Civil Code of Québec requires the tenant, at the end of the lease, to return the dwelling in the condition in which it was received, except for changes resulting from aging, normal wear and tear, or superior force. The same framework also states that the condition of the dwelling may be established by a description or by photographs. That is exactly why a serious inspection before move out matters so much.
Source https://www.legisquebec.gouv.qc.ca/fr/pdf/rc/T-15.01%2C%20R.%203.pdf
The first inspection before the move
The first useful step is to inspect the dwelling before the tenant has officially left. This visit helps separate normal wear and tear from actual damage, unfinished repairs, or cleanliness issues that should be corrected before the final handover. The TAL explains that a lessor may inspect a dwelling, but must act reasonably and give 24 hours notice. Visits must take place between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m., except in urgent situations.
Source https://www.tal.gouv.qc.ca/en/the-dwelling/access-to-the-dwelling-and-visiting-rights
Source https://www.tal.gouv.qc.ca/en/being-a-lessee/rights-and-obligations-of-the-lessee
That pre move out inspection is often the best time to identify large holes in walls, damaged doors, broken fixtures, marked floors, bathroom damage, strong odours, items left behind, or any other issue the tenant still has time to fix before leaving. The longer you wait, the less time the tenant has to correct things. That practical logic flows directly from the obligation to return the dwelling in the condition required by law.
Source https://www.legisquebec.gouv.qc.ca/fr/pdf/rc/T-15.01%2C%20R.%203.pdf
Photos and evidence are not optional details
A useful inspection should be backed by clear photos. It is best to photograph every room, visible damage, appliances if any, the inside of cabinets, floors, windows, doors, accessories, and anything else that could later become disputed. The TAL materials expressly state that the condition of the dwelling may be established by photographs, and the Tribunal also notes elsewhere that photos can serve as evidence.
Source https://www.legisquebec.gouv.qc.ca/fr/pdf/rc/T-15.01%2C%20R.%203.pdf
Source https://www.tal.gouv.qc.ca/en/the-dwelling/unsanitary-conditions
In practice, the best approach is to gather those photos into a clear document. A messy email with ten loose attachments can easily be overlooked. A well organized PDF with photos and a brief explanation of what must be repaired is far more useful. The goal is not to create an aggressive document. The goal is to make sure the tenant clearly understands what needs to be repaired, cleaned, or removed before the move out date. This is a management best practice rather than a line copied directly from the law.
The notice has to be clear and provable
After the inspection, it is very helpful to send a prompt email summarizing the findings and attaching a PDF with the photos. That message should be simple, specific, and easy to reread later. The clearer the message is, the harder it becomes for a tenant to later say they did not know what had to be done.
Proof of receipt matters just as much as the content of the message. The TAL recommends using a method that provides valid proof of receipt for notices. For a formal notice, the TAL also states that sending by email should come with an acknowledgement of receipt or proof that it was actually received. In other words, asking the tenant to reply and confirm receipt is a very smart habit.
Source https://www.tal.gouv.qc.ca/en/models-of-notices/
Source https://www.tal.gouv.qc.ca/en/the-dwelling/formal-notice
Source https://www.tal.gouv.qc.ca/en/filing-an-application/notification-of-an-application-to-the-other-party
If the file is more sensitive, registered mail, a bailiff, or another system that generates real proof of receipt may be even safer. That is not always necessary, but once a file starts to go sideways, proof of receipt can become almost as important as proof of the damage itself.
Source https://www.tal.gouv.qc.ca/en/models-of-notices/
Source https://www.tal.gouv.qc.ca/en/the-dwelling/formal-notice
Source https://www.tal.gouv.qc.ca/en/filing-an-application/notification-of-an-application-to-the-other-party
Ask for the tenant’s new address before things get harder
Another very useful habit before move out is asking for the tenant’s new address. Many landlords neglect this because everyone is focused on boxes, keys, and cleaning at the end. But if a dispute comes up later, you need to be able to notify the other party properly. The TAL explains that when the other party cannot be found, it may be necessary to seek permission for service by public notice, which complicates the file. The TAL application form also requires the identification of the parties, and the TAL provides a notice of change of address model.
Source https://www.tal.gouv.qc.ca/en/filing-an-application/notification-of-an-application-to-the-other-party
Source https://www.tal.gouv.qc.ca/fr/formulaires-de-demande-au-tribunal/demande
Source https://www.tal.gouv.qc.ca/en/models-of-notices/
It is therefore much better to get that new address while communication still exists, ideally before the relationship becomes tense. This is not only about organization. It can also save time, effort, and extra procedural steps if you later need to claim damages or notify a proceeding. That last point is a practical conclusion based on the process rather than an official sentence from the TAL.
Make the difference between damage and normal wear clear
Normal wear and tear is part of the life of a rental unit. Mild fading, certain minor marks related to time, and ordinary wear of materials should not automatically be treated as tenant fault. But large holes, breakage, installations left behind without restoration, abandoned garbage, broken fixtures, or major dirt are not automatically normal wear and tear. Article 1890 exists precisely to distinguish aging from the real condition in which the dwelling must be returned.
Source https://www.legisquebec.gouv.qc.ca/fr/pdf/rc/T-15.01%2C%20R.%203.pdf
It helps to explain this clearly in the document sent after the first inspection. The more concrete your expectations are, the less room there is for confusion. For example, it is far more useful to say that three large holes in the living room wall must be repaired than to simply say the unit must be returned in good condition. This is mostly a matter of clear professional communication.
Check what still has to be removed
A tenant must leave the dwelling and remove furniture or objects that do not belong to the landlord. The mandatory lease information expressly repeats that obligation at the end of the lease. That often includes items left behind, temporary installations, shelves added without proper restoration, wall mounts, bulky garbage, or forgotten belongings in a storage area, on a balcony, or in a parking space.
Source https://www.legisquebec.gouv.qc.ca/fr/pdf/rc/T-15.01%2C%20R.%203.pdf
In real life, this is often one of the biggest problems. A unit can look almost acceptable while still being packed with bags, furniture, or abandoned items that delay repairs, cleaning, or the next move in. That is why it is better to put it in writing before the move rather than argue at the last minute in front of a doorway full of boxes.
The second inspection after move out is essential
Once the tenant has officially left, a second inspection is essential. This visit is used to verify whether the requested repairs were really done, whether the unit was fully emptied, whether damage occurred during the move, whether the cleaning is acceptable, and whether the dwelling is actually ready for what comes next. Very often, that is when hidden problems finally appear behind furniture, on stairs, inside the fridge, on cabinet doors, or in leftover debris.
That second inspection fits naturally within the logic of article 1890, because the tenant’s obligation is measured when the occupation truly ends. It also lets you compare the final result with the first inspection and with the photos already sent. The clearer and more chronological your file is, the stronger your evidence becomes if the matter has to go further.
Source https://www.legisquebec.gouv.qc.ca/fr/pdf/rc/T-15.01%2C%20R.%203.pdf
Source https://www.tal.gouv.qc.ca/en/the-dwelling/unsanitary-conditions
Final cleanliness matters more than people think
Before new occupants arrive, the dwelling obviously has to be clean and ready. Beyond appearance alone, cleanliness also affects reletting speed, first impressions, and sometimes the amount of extra work required. A dirty unit can force the landlord to rush cleaning services, delay some repairs, or lose valuable turnaround time between tenancies.
On the ground, it is often worth reminding the tenant to clean appliances, cabinets, bathrooms, floors, the inside of the oven, the fridge, simple filters where applicable, and to fully remove garbage. These are not always dramatic issues, but they are exactly the details that create the worst surprises on handover day. This part is mainly practical management advice.
Do not forget keys, remotes, and access devices
A complete move out is not only about the physical condition of the unit. You also need to recover keys, garage remotes, fobs, badges, mailbox keys, and any other access device that was provided at the start of the tenancy. If something is missing, it is better to record that immediately.
This may sound obvious, but it prevents many unnecessary calls after the tenant has already gone. When a unit needs to be turned over quickly, the simple fact that a key, fob, or remote is missing can create costs or delay full readiness. This is again an operational best practice more than a detailed Civil Code rule.
It is better to prevent than to rebuild the file later
The main principle is simple. The more work you do before the tenant leaves, the less you will have to reconstruct later. A pre move out inspection, photos, a clear PDF, an email with proof of receipt, the tenant’s new address, and a final inspection after move out create a much stronger method than a casual hallway conversation.
In a market like Gatineau, Hull, Aylmer, Buckingham, Masson Angers, or the Plateau, this kind of rigour often makes the difference between a smooth turnover and a file that costs time, money, and energy. That is exactly why Gestion Immobilière Souleymane prefers clear communication, precise photos, and written records that are easy to produce if needed.
In summary
Before a tenant leaves, you should inspect the dwelling, document the problems, send a clear follow up with photos and a PDF, obtain proof of receipt, ask for the new address, and then perform a second inspection after move out to confirm the final condition, cleanliness, and return of all access devices. Article 1890 C.C.Q. gives the legal foundation. The rest is mostly about having a serious and consistent method.
Source https://www.legisquebec.gouv.qc.ca/fr/pdf/rc/T-15.01%2C%20R.%203.pdf
Source https://www.tal.gouv.qc.ca/en/models-of-notices/
Source https://www.tal.gouv.qc.ca/en/the-dwelling/formal-notice
Source https://www.tal.gouv.qc.ca/en/filing-an-application/notification-of-an-application-to-the-other-party
This article is general information only and not legal advice. Depending on the facts, the available evidence, and the real condition of the dwelling, it may be best to obtain advice tailored to your situation.
Source https://www.tal.gouv.qc.ca/en/the-dwelling/formal-notice
Source https://www.tal.gouv.qc.ca/en/filing-an-application/notification-of-an-application-to-the-other-party