Quebec pledges tougher penalties for abusive landlords

Québec Solidaire is adopting a plan to impose steeper fines and harsher penalties on abusive landlords as part of its party platform, targeting repeat offenders who harass or neglect tenants.

The proposal would increase existing fines by $10,000 for each repeat infraction, capping at $100,000 for individuals and $200,000 for corporations. Beyond financial penalties, the plan grants provinces and municipalities the power to expropriate properties owned by repeat offenders — a significant escalation in enforcement tools.

The measure reflects growing pressure on Quebec's housing crisis, where tenant protections and enforcement against bad-faith landlords have become central election issues. The proposal aims to deter serial violations and give authorities a direct way to remove properties from abusive operators' hands.