TAL lease 2026: sections F and G and the mandatory lease form

The mandatory lease form, 2026 version

The TAL lease form has been mandatory since September 1, 1996 for every new residential lease: a room, an apartment, a condo or a house. For a verbal lease, you give the tenant the mandatory written form within 10 days. For a signed lease, you give them a copy within 10 days of signing (art. 1895 of the Civil Code of Québec, C.C.Q.). The rights set out in the form apply even if the form wasn't used.

The form was revised on January 1, 2026. What changed:

• a clause on smoking;
• in section F, a line for the maximum rent for the first 5 years;
• in section G, an option for a unit where no rent was paid in the last 12 months;
• the lease for a dwelling in an educational institution becomes the lease of a dwelling for a person who is studying;
• the legal notices are updated for Bills 31 and 65.

The form costs $2.99 plus taxes. The electronic lease, on a government platform, also costs $2.99 plus taxes ($3.44).

Section F: a building built or converted 5 years ago or less

Section F covers a unit in a building built 5 years ago or less, or whose residential use results from a change of use made 5 years ago or less. The 5 years run from the date the building is ready for habitation, a date you write in section F.

During those 5 years, if section F is filled in (art. 1955 C.C.Q.):

• neither you nor the tenant can ask the TAL to fix the rent or modify the lease;
• a tenant who refuses your change, such as an increase, must leave at the end of the lease;
• you don't have to fill in section G;
• the TAL can still rule on other matters, such as a rent decrease.

You can only rely on this restriction if it is stated in the lease, by ticking the section F boxes.

The maximum rent, since Bill 31

Since February 21, 2024, you must also write in section F the maximum rent you may charge during the 5 years after the building is ready for its intended use. The rule applies to a lease signed on or after February 21, 2024, in a building that became ready on or after that same date. In other cases, the former version of art. 1955 C.C.Q. applies.

Section G: the lowest rent in the last 12 months

When a lease or sublease is signed, you give the new tenant the section G notice (art. 1896 C.C.Q.). Since the 2026 form, it covers three situations:

1. the lowest rent paid in the 12 months before the lease begins, or the rent fixed by the TAL during that period;
2. no rent paid in the last 12 months: you give the last rent paid and its date;
3. a former private seniors' residence unit converted into ordinary housing.

The notice isn't required if section F applies, or for low-rental housing.

The new tenant's recourse

The new tenant can ask the TAL to fix their rent (art. 1950 C.C.Q.):

Since Bill 31, for a lease signed on or after February 21, 2024, a false statement or knowingly omitting the notice also exposes the landlord to punitive damages.

The language of the lease

The lease and the building's rules are drawn up in French. The landlord and tenant may, however, expressly agree to use another language (art. 1897 C.C.Q.); the TAL form exists in French and in English. Every notice about the lease, including the rent increase notice, must then be in the language of the lease (art. 1898 C.C.Q.).

Bill 96 also amended section 55 of the Charter of the French Language: since June 1, 2023, a contract of adhesion must first be provided in French, and only then may the parties choose to be bound by a version in another language. The guide on contracts of adhesion from the Office québécois de la langue française (OQLF, Québec's French-language office) doesn't say whether a residential lease is one. To be safe, present the lease in French first and sign in English only at the tenant's express request; when in doubt, check with the OQLF.

Before signing: a checklist

• The 2026 form, or an old form with the adjustment annex (until December 31, 2026 only).
• Building 5 years old or less: section F filled in, with the date the building was ready and, where required, the maximum rent.
• Other buildings: section G filled in.
• The language of the lease expressly agreed: your notices will have to follow it.
• A copy given to the tenant within 10 days of signing.

Common questions

Can I still use an old lease form?

Yes, until December 31, 2026, as long as you attach the TAL's free adjustment annex. After that date, use the current form.

My building is less than 5 years old: can I raise the rent without going through the TAL?

Yes, if section F is filled in: a tenant who refuses the increase must leave at the end of the lease. For a lease and a building dating from February 21, 2024 or later, section F must also state the maximum rent for the 5 years; otherwise the usual rules apply.

What goes in section G if the unit was vacant for more than a year?

The 2026 form covers this case: give the last rent paid and its date.

What does a landlord risk by writing a false rent in section G?

The tenant can ask the TAL to fix the rent within 2 months of discovering it. For a lease signed since February 21, 2024, the landlord is also exposed to punitive damages.

Can a lease be signed in English in Quebec?

Yes, if the landlord and tenant expressly agree. Notices about the lease must then be written in English.