How Long Does It Take to Get an Eviction Judgment from the Rental Board in Quebec

The question every landlord asks: from the first notice to the day the bailiff locks the door, how long does it really take? The straightforward answer is between 2 and 8 months depending on the eviction grounds and region, with most cases settling between 4 and 6 months. This timeline varies significantly depending on whether you're pursuing non-payment (faster) or other grounds like nuisance or property damage (considerably slower).

Realistic eviction timeline at the Rental Board

Understanding delays requires tracking each step carefully. Evictions in Quebec are never quick, even when everything proceeds smoothly.

The notice requirement: mandatory first step

Everything begins with a written notice. For rent non-payment, you must wait a minimum of 3 weeks after the default occurs before serving notice. You cannot act faster. This delay is imposed by the Residential Tenancies Act.

The notice must be delivered in person, sent by registered mail, or posted at the door depending on circumstances. It gives the tenant a minimum period to correct the situation, typically 10 days for non-payment.

Filing with the Rental Board

If the tenant doesn't resolve matters after the notice, you prepare your eviction application. Filing costs between $83 and $259 depending on the application type. You can file online, by mail, or in person.

Once the Rental Board receives your file, it reviews whether the application is complete and compliant. This verification typically takes 5 to 10 days.

Delays from filing to hearing

Timelines diverge significantly here depending on your application type.

Non-payment of rent: the fastest procedure

For non-payment, the Rental Board uses an expedited process. The hearing is usually scheduled between 20 and 35 days after filing. This means you appear before a judge roughly 3 to 5 weeks after formally seizing the tribunal.

This is the most predictable and fastest procedure. The Board prioritizes these cases because they concern housing access, a fundamental issue.

Other eviction grounds: standard procedure

If you're pursuing nuisance, property damage, or unauthorized use, you enter standard procedure. Hearing delays extend to 8 to 14 months, sometimes longer depending on your regional tribunal's caseload.

In areas away from Montreal or Quebec City, delays can reach 18 to 20 months. Peripheral tribunals have fewer resources and files accumulate.

Judgment duration and decision timeline

Hearing day finally arrives. The hearing itself rarely exceeds 30 to 45 minutes unless the case is particularly complex or contested.

After the hearing, the judge may render a judgment immediately (rare) or take the file under reserve. If reserved, the Board has maximum 3 months to deliver its decision. In practice, judgments arrive between 2 and 8 weeks after the hearing.

Homologation: a step many landlords overlook

Once you obtain an eviction judgment, you don't go straight to the bailiff. The judgment must first be homologated with Superior Court or Quebec Court, depending on context. This administrative step adds 3 to 4 weeks.

Without homologation, the bailiff cannot proceed with physical eviction. It's a mandatory legal step many landlords forget when calculating total timelines.

Forced execution: the final stages

Once homologated, the judgment goes to a bailiff. The bailiff must notify the tenant of execution at least 5 days before the scheduled eviction date. This 5-day period is inviolable.

Physical eviction itself (lockout, key change, removal of belongings) typically takes 1 to 2 days.

Purge right: tenant can still pay and stop eviction

Warning: until physical eviction occurs, the tenant retains the purge right, meaning the right to pay the entire debt (back rent, court costs, bailiff fees, penalties) to stop the eviction. Even the day before execution, this right exists.

Many files stop at this stage. The tenant finds funds or resolves the issue, and eviction is cancelled. This explains why many eviction judgments never result in actual eviction.

Summary: realistic total timelines

Non-payment of rent (most common scenario):

• Notice to filing: 1 month
• Filing to hearing: 3 to 5 weeks
• Hearing to decision: 2 to 8 weeks
• Homologation: 3 to 4 weeks
• Homologation to execution: 1 to 2 weeks
• Total: 4 to 6 months

Other grounds (nuisance, damage):

• Same initial phase: 1 month
• Filing to hearing: 8 to 14 months (sometimes 18+)
• Rest identical
• Total: 10 to 18 months (or more)

Appeals and recourse: extending timelines

If the tenant contests the judgment or files for revision, you must wait for these remedies to be processed. An appeal to Quebec Court typically takes an additional 6 to 12 months.

The tenant has 30 days from judgment to file an appeal. If you've been waiting for eviction for months, an appeal can mean 1 to 2 additional years.

Factors accelerating or delaying proceedings

Certain situations modify these timeframes.

Acceleration:

• Very straightforward case (clear non-payment, no contestation)
• Application accepted without hearing (rare but possible)
• Region with light tribunal caseload
• Tenant does not appeal

Delays:

• Complex file (multiple grounds combined)
• Tenant actively contests
• Heavy caseload at regional tribunal
• Temporary moratoria (for example, seasonal restrictions)
• Tenant recourse or appeals
• Administrative errors or procedural shortcomings

Key takeaways

No eviction is truly quick. Even in the best scenario, count on minimum 4 months. Most non-payment evictions span 4 to 6 months. Other eviction grounds can take a year or longer.

The Quebec system intentionally gives tenants time to remedy the situation or contest it. This is legal protection. It means you must plan your property management around these realistic timelines, especially if you depend on rental income for financial obligations.

If you're considering eviction, consult a lawyer or notary at the outset to master each step and the exact timelines applying to your specific situation.