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Living in Montreal
Housing
Cheap rent was listed in the Mirror's Best of Montreal issue as the top reason for living here. The high vacancy rates make finding a place to call home relatively easy. Quebec also has strict rent-increase limits, and landlords are not allowed to ask for first and last months' rent or for a damage deposit.
The City of Montreal owns about 550 buildings, which it then renovates and offers as rent-controlled or co-op apartments. Its mandate is to provide residences for the elderly or families. Call 872-1555 for information on available housing.
A number of groups lobby for low-cost and co-op housing.
La Corporation des habitations Jeanne-Mance offers low-income housing for families and those above age 50. 150 Ontario E, 872-1515. (Also call 872-2277 for information about low-income housing for students with income less than $1,500/year)
McGill Off-Campus Housing Computer listings for McGill students. Must come in person with valid identification, Monday to Friday, 9 -5. 3637 Peel, # 206 (at Dr-Penfield), 398-6010
Concordia Off-Campus Housing and Job Bank Open from Mon-Thu 10­6, and Fri 11­4. 1455 de Maisonneuve W., #H260, 848-7476 (Concordia students only)
NDG Info Depot An information centre for low-cost housing, welfare and more. Call 483-5346, or visit 2121 Oxford (at de Maisonneuve).
POPIR Primary services are two-fold: to provide info on co-op, private or long-term housing and to initiate community action in the form of co-ops and mobilization. Mon-Thu 9am-12pm, 1:30-4:30pm (closed Wed mornings). 4281 Notre-Dame W., 935-4649
Tenants' rights
Arnold Bennett's Housing Hotline. Bennett carries the torch for tenant rights in Montreal and offers a Tenants' Advisory Clinic every Sat at 11am at the NDG YMCA, (4385 Hampton), Sun at 11am at the downtown YMCA, (1450 Stanley) and Tues at 7pm at the St-Laurent YMCA. Also every Wed 3:30-6:30pm at the Westmount YMCA, (4585 Sherbrooke W.), 488-0412/990-0190
Le Regroupement des comités logements et associations de locataires du Québec is an umbrella organization which can inform you of the Comité logement closest to you. Each Comité offers information and advice on how to deal with housing problems such as discrimination, insects and unreasonable rent increases. Call 521-7114, or contact directly:
Comité logement Centre-Sud 1710 Beaudry, 521-5992
Comité logement de la Petite Patrie 6747 St-Denis, 272-9006
Comité logement du Plateau 2165 Mont-Royal E., 527-3495
Régie du logement This provincial office can help increase your awareness and make use of Quebec's respectable landlord-tenant laws. Re-read your lease and gather all relevant documents before attempting to deal with rental disputes. 5199 Sherbrooke E. #2095 is the address of their main office; you may want to contact them for a closer location before heading there. 873-2245 or visit their Web site at http://www.rdl.gouv.qc.ca
Access Montreal City-run offices composed of two public consultation bodies: The neighbourhood Council, which encourages expression on community life, and the Montreal Urban Development Commission, a forum on draft bylaws and zoning. Although the telephone information service is 24-hours, you'll probably have to visit one of their 13 offices to pay taxes or tickets, make a sworn statement, lodge requests for permits or subsidies or obtain an Access membership card. 872-1111
Fédération des co-opératives d'habitation de l'Ile de Montréal Represents co-op members. 1000 Amherst #201, 843-6929
Front d'action populaire en réaménagement urbain (FRAPRU) is a provincial coalition of 40 housing groups, focusing on tenants' rights and affordable housing. 1215 de la Visitation #104, 522-1010
Public Works Responsible for garbage collection and sidewalk repairs, this city service also has information on drinking water, a schedule of dangerous materials collection, recycling, etc. Call 872-3434
Tandem Montreal is a city-run crime-prevention service that sets up neighbourhood-watch programs and offers information and advice on home security. Call the headquarters at 872-6155 to find the one nearest you. |
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