Cannabis: the owners are preparing to modify their leases

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The Quebec landlords Association has created a guide that explains how to modify the leases against the impact of cannabis. More than 23 000 copies have already been distributed.

QMI agency

Saturday, 27-jan-2018 19:02

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Saturday, 27-jan-2018 19:02

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If the cities in question as to the application of the law on the legalization of cannabis in public places, building owners are also in the uncertainty.

One hundred owners of rental housing gathered Saturday to assess how to make their building smoke-free after the entry into force of the legalization of cannabis in Canada.

“I write in my lease that if things are done drugs in my housing, it alerts the police immediately,” said one of them.

To prohibit the consumption of cannabis in their homes, owners must notify tenants, including by the mailing of a notice of modification of the lease not later than three months before expiry of the current lease. Therefore, for the majority, the notice must be sent before the end of the month of march.

“Tenants have the right to refuse the change. Be aware that tenants have rights at this level. They may challenge,” explained the spokesperson for the Grouping of committees, housing and tenant associations of Quebec (RCLALQ), Maxime Roy-Allard.

The Quebec landlords Association has created a guide that explains how to modify the leases against the impact of cannabis. More than 23 000 copies have already been distributed.

“It is necessary to explain to the owners that, due to the fact that it is a bill, there may be advantage to exclude also the culture, because if it does not, and that the government decides to amend its draft law following a lobby of people who want cannabis in the housing, you can’t send a second notice of modification of the lease”, noted the president of the association, Martin A. Messier.

And what does the law say about this? Not to mention the condominium? For Me, Michel Morin, author of the book “O Cannabis”, it’s all a matter of respect between neighbors.

“A tenant must adhere to, if you will, the tranquility of its neighbors, must not interfere with the enjoyment of places of its neighbors. In the case of condominiums, we have a neighbor who is an occasional user. Once a month, you will feel a smell of cannabis. He will have to get used to the idea that it’s going to be legal.”

The legalization of cannabis in Canada is planned for July 2018. There remains, therefore, a few months for owners to prepare.