Student housing crisis in Quebec: Renting a homestay for the 2026 academic year

The start of the 2026 academic year is fast approaching, and with it, the daunting obstacle course of finding a roof over one's head. If you are looking for student accommodation in Quebec for 2026, you have undoubtedly noticed that the property market is going through an unprecedented period of turbulence. Between soaring rents, persistent inflation, and a rental supply that is becoming drastically scarce, students are the first to be affected by this difficult situation. At Roomlala, we are closely monitoring this alarming situation and are convinced that there are viable, secure, and deeply human alternative solutions. Faced with this widespread shortage, renting a homestay or opting for intergenerational cohabitation is the ideal answer for many young people. Let's look together at the challenges of this Quebec housing crisis and the countless advantages, both legal and financial, of this practice which is reinventing the way people live in La Belle Province.

The Quebec housing crisis: An alarming overview for the start of the 2026 academic year

Worrying statistics on the Montreal and Quebec rental market

Recent data confirms what many feared on the ground. According to the latest reports from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) for 2026, the rental vacancy rate in Montreal remains at a critical threshold, sitting at around 1.5%. In some university towns in the province, this rate is even hovering near 1%. In concrete terms, a healthy vacancy rate should be around 3% to ensure a balance between supply and demand. At 1.5%, we are in a situation of extreme scarcity. Landlords are receiving dozens, or even hundreds of applications for a simple studio. Students, often without a solid credit history or local guarantors (especially international students), consistently find themselves at the bottom of the pile. This reality significantly worsens the shortage of student accommodation, sometimes forcing them to accept unsanitary housing or accommodation located hours of travel time from their campus.

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This scarcity of supply has the direct consequence of an explosion in rental prices. New leases signed in 2026 are showing dizzying increases compared to previous years, making the traditional market almost inaccessible for a single person with a student budget. Finding a homestay in Montreal is therefore no longer just a lifestyle choice, but an absolute necessity to be able to continue one's studies in decent conditions. At Roomlala, we are also seeing a massive increase in searches for this type of alternative accommodation, a sign that mentalities are changing out of necessity.

The growing financial insecurity of the student population

The impact of this crisis on the financial and mental health of students is devastating. Recent data from the Student Housing Implementation Task Force (UTILE) is unequivocal: more than 77% of Quebec university students are tenants. Among them, one statistic is particularly chilling: more than 60% of these student tenants spend more than 30% of their monthly income just to pay their rent. The 30% threshold is, however, recognized globally as the limit beyond which a household is considered to be in a situation of financial insecurity related to housing.

When a student spends 40% or 50% of their budget on rent, the consequences are immediate. They have to cut their grocery budget, give up on healthcare, or take on more part-time work hours at the expense of their studies. Take the example of Sarah, a second-year student at the Université de Montréal. To pay for her $1,200 a month studio, she has to work more than 25 hours a week, which has a direct impact on her academic results and stress levels. It is precisely to break this cycle of insecurity that alternatives like student homestays make perfect sense at the start of the 2026 academic year.

Homestays: A human, economic, and supportive alternative

A reinvented and highly affordable student housing arrangement

Faced with the prohibitive prices of individual studios, renting a room in a homestay acts as a breath of fresh financial air. As a general rule, renting a room from a private individual costs between 30% and 50% less than an independent flat. But the financial advantages don't stop at just the rent amount. By opting for this arrangement, the student is freed from many additional expenses that weigh heavily on a moving-in budget: buying furniture, opening Hydro-Québec accounts, internet subscriptions, or purchasing appliances. Everything is already on-site and ready to use.

Beyond the purely economic aspect, it is the human experience that gives this model its strength. The student, especially if they arrive from another region of Quebec or from abroad, immediately finds a point of reference. Their host can guide them on the best addresses in the neighbourhood, how public transport works (the STM in Montreal or the RTC in Quebec City), and the subtleties of local life. Let's take the case of Julien, a French student who just arrived at UQAM. By renting a room with a young retired couple in the Rosemont district, he not only halved his housing budget but also benefited from an express integration into Quebec culture, thus avoiding the famous culture shock and the loneliness of the first few months.

The boom in intergenerational cohabitation supported by the government

The year 2026 also marks a decisive turning point in institutional support for these types of accommodation. The Quebec government, aware of the dual problem of the student housing crisis and the isolation of the elderly, is actively encouraging intergenerational cohabitation. The flagship programme 'Échanges entre générations 2026-2027' is the perfect illustration of this. This innovative scheme subsidises the accommodation of students in seniors' residences (RPA) or with elderly private individuals, in exchange for a few hours of volunteering per week.

In concrete terms, a student can benefit from a very modest rent (sometimes symbolic) by committing to spending 5 to 8 hours per week with their host. These moments of sharing can take various forms: help with using computer tools, sharing meals, reading, or simple discussions to break the loneliness. This is the case for Léo, a student at Université Laval, who lives with 72-year-old Marcel in Sainte-Foy. In exchange for a rent of $350 per month, Léo helps Marcel with his heavy shopping and shares dinner with him three times a week. It is a genuine relationship of trust and mutual respect that is established, proving that student housing can take on a deeply social and supportive dimension.

Landlords: The legal and tax framework for renting a room in 2026

Understanding Law 67 and the directives of the Housing Administrative Tribunal (TAL)

For landlords who are considering offering a homestay in Montreal or elsewhere in Quebec, it is essential to fully understand the legal framework in force in 2026. One of the major points of vigilance concerns the regulations on tourist accommodation (Law 67). It is crucial not to confuse a student lease with a short-term rental like Airbnb. Since the new 2026 regulations, renting a space for a period of 31 days or less mandatorily requires registration with the CITQ (Corporation de l'industrie touristique du Québec) and the provision of two proofs of primary residence. The fines for non-compliance with this law are extremely severe.

Fortunately, renting a room to a student for a university session (which lasts several months) avoids this administrative burden. A rental of more than 31 consecutive days falls directly under the jurisdiction of the Housing Administrative Tribunal (TAL). This completely exempts the landlord from the strict rules of tourist accommodation. By signing a standard TAL lease for the rental of a room, the landlord enters into a clear and protective legal framework, both for them and for the tenant. It should be noted, however, that any rent increase from one year to the next, or the initial setting of the rent if the room was already rented, must imperatively take into account the annual directives issued by the TAL.

Taxation: Declaring income and advantageous deductions

Another fundamental aspect for hosts concerns taxation. At Roomlala, we always remind our community that income earned from renting out a homestay room is taxable. It must be declared annually to Revenu Québec and the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). This should not be seen as a deterrent, as the tax system provides for very advantageous mechanisms for landlords who rent out part of their primary residence.

Indeed, you have the right to deduct a portion of your current expenses, calculated pro-rata based on the surface area rented in relation to the total surface area of your home. Here are some examples of admissible expenses that you can deduct from your rental income:

• Electricity and heating: A portion of your Hydro-Québec bills.
• Telecommunication services: A percentage of your internet subscription, essential for a student.
• Insurance and taxes: A portion of your home insurance and your municipal and school taxes.
• Maintenance: Costs related to repairs carried out specifically in the rented room or in the shared common areas.

For example, if the rented room and shared spaces represent 15% of the total surface area of your home, you will generally be able to deduct 15% of these fixed costs from your rental income, thus considerably reducing the tax impact. We invite you, however, to consult a chartered accountant or the official websites of Revenu Québec and the CRA to validate your specific situation.

Preparing for your guest: Decency criteria and advice from Roomlala

Offering an adequate living and study environment

Renting a room to a student cannot be improvised. For the cohabitation to be a success and to meet legal requirements, the rented room must respect strict decency criteria. It is not just a matter of providing a mattress, but of offering a genuinely adequate study environment. In Quebec, health and safety standards require a room to have a minimum surface area (generally estimated at 9m² for basic comfort). The space must mandatorily include a window facing the exterior, not only to guarantee natural light, but above all to serve as an emergency exit in the event of a fire.

Furthermore, the room must be correctly heated, a non-negotiable point given the harshness of the Quebec winter. The student must also have guaranteed and fluid access to basic amenities: a clean bathroom, a kitchen equipped for preparing their meals (which helps them save even more), and a stable and fast Wi-Fi connection, which has become the number one work tool for following online courses, doing research, or submitting university assignments. Furnishing the room with an ergonomic desk, a comfortable chair, and sufficient storage will make all the difference in attracting serious and respectful profiles.

Securing your rental and finding the perfect match with Roomlala

Opening your door to a stranger can legitimately cause apprehension. That is where Roomlala's expertise comes into play. We make a point of honour to secure every step of the introduction. On our platform, the profiles of tenants and hosts are verified, allowing you to consult the reviews left by former housemates. This transparency is the key to building mutual trust from the very first exchanges.

To make your cohabitation a success, we strongly advise you to establish clear house rules from the start. Discuss sleep schedules openly, policies concerning guests, the distribution of household chores in common areas, and the use of the kitchen. Drafting a short cohabitation charter as an annex to the TAL lease helps to avoid 90% of potential conflicts. At the start of the 2026 academic year, faced with the Quebec housing crisis, becoming a host on Roomlala is much more than a financial transaction: it is a civic act, an opportunity for personal enrichment, and a concrete solution to help the new generation build its future with peace of mind.