{"id":74439,"date":"2026-06-08T12:38:19","date_gmt":"2026-06-08T16:38:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.assur360.ca\/tenant-sublet-and-airbnb-insurance-in-quebec-2026\/"},"modified":"2026-06-08T12:38:49","modified_gmt":"2026-06-08T16:38:49","slug":"tenant-sublet-and-airbnb-insurance-in-quebec-2026","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.assur360.ca\/en\/tenant-sublet-and-airbnb-insurance-in-quebec-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Tenant, Sublet and Airbnb Insurance in Quebec 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Are you a tenant in Quebec<\/strong> and thinking of subletting your home<\/strong> to a roommate for a few months, or offering your apartment on Airbnb<\/strong> during the summer? Please note: almost all standard tenant insurance<\/strong> policies explicitly exclude subletting and tourist accommodation. Without a declaration to your insurer, without a CITQ permit<\/strong> when required, and without the written agreement of your landlord, you take three major risks: denial of compensation, cancellation of the policy and municipal fines of up to $100,000. At Assur360<\/strong>, an independent comparator<\/strong>, the brokers of our partner firms explain your real options \u2014 endorsement, specialized hotel policy or risk denial \u2014 for Montreal<\/strong>, Quebec City<\/strong>, Mont-Tremblant<\/strong>, Gatineau<\/strong> and Sherbrooke<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n

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0<\/div>\n
Standard policy does not cover Airbnb<\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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CITQ<\/div>\n
Mandatory from 1 night (law 2023)<\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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90 %<\/div>\n
of leases prohibit short subletting<\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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100 K+<\/div>\n
Quebecers advised by Assur360<\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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SUBLETTING \u00b7 AIRBNB \u00b7 QUEBEC 2026<\/p>\n

<\/span>Sublet or Airbnb without losing your insurance<\/span><\/h2>\n

Before publishing your ad, have your situation validated by an insurance broker. 3 minutes, without obligation, in accordance with the new Quebec rules. <\/p>\n Check my situation in 3 minutes\u2192<\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n

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WARNING: subletting and Airbnb = standard exclusions<\/p>\n

The vast majority of tenant insurance policies<\/strong> in Quebec DO NOT cover long-term subletting or tourist accommodation without prior declaration. A loss that occurs while a subtenant or Airbnb guest is present can result in a total denial of compensation<\/strong> and the retroactive cancellation of your policy. This information is indicative \u2014 each insurer applies its own rules. Always have it validated in writing. <\/p>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

<\/span>Long-term subletting vs Airbnb: 2 different worlds<\/span><\/h2>\n\n

Before talking about insurance, it is important to understand that in Quebec, classic subletting<\/strong> (one month or more, governed by the Civil Code) and short-term tourist accommodation<\/strong> (such as Airbnb) are two distinct legal realities, subject to completely different rules, taxes and coverage.<\/p>\n\n

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Long-term subletting<\/h3>\n

Duration of one month or more<\/strong>, usually to a student, intern or colleague. The main tenant remains responsible for the lease and becomes a “landlord” for the subtenant. Governed by articles 1870 to 1876 of the Civil Code of Qu\u00e9bec<\/strong>. <\/p>\n

Written agreement of the owner is mandatory (unless the landlord refuses to do so within 15 days).<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

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Short-term accommodation \/ Airbnb<\/h3>\n

Duration of less than 31 consecutive days<\/strong> . Considered a tourist accommodation establishment<\/strong> within the meaning of Quebec law. Requires CITQ permit<\/strong>, landlord agreement, compliance with municipal by-law and collection of GST, QST and lodging tax. <\/p>\n

In Montreal, Quebec City and Mont-Tremblant: often prohibited outside designated areas.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

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Occasional accommodation of a loved one<\/h3>\n

Receive a parent, a friend or an adult child for a few nights, without financial compensation<\/strong>. Generally tolerated without declaration, but to be checked in your lease and policy. <\/p>\n

No rent = no subletting, but civil liability maintained.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

<\/span>What the law says in Quebec<\/span><\/h2>\n\n

Three legal layers are superimposed: the Civil Code<\/strong> for classic subletting, the Act respecting tourist accommodation establishments<\/strong> for Airbnb, and the municipal by-laws<\/strong> specific to each city. No insurance can compensate for illegal activity. <\/p>\n\n

The Civil Code of Qu\u00e9bec and Subletting (Article 1870)<\/h3>\n\n

Article 1870 C.C.Q.<\/strong> authorizes any tenant to sublet his dwelling, provided that he notifies the landlord in writing with the name and address of the future subtenant. The landlord has 15 days<\/strong> to refuse, and the refusal must be for a serious reason<\/em>. If no refusal is made within this period, consent is deemed to have been given. The main tenant remains jointly and severally liable<\/strong> for the damage caused by his subtenant. <\/p>\n\n

The CITQ permit (Act respecting tourist accommodation establishments)<\/h3>\n\n

Since September 1, 2023<\/sup>, any Quebecer who wishes to offer their accommodation (or a room) for tourism purposes for <\/strong>less than 31 days<\/strong> must hold a permit issued by the Corporation de l’industrie touristique du Qu\u00e9bec (CITQ),<\/strong> display the classification number on each ad and demonstrate their right to occupy the premises for this purpose. Platforms such as Airbnb, Vrbo or Booking are obliged to remove any non-compliant listing. Fines range from $2,500 to $100,000<\/strong> per violation. <\/p>\n\n

Municipal by-laws (Montreal, Quebec City, Mont-Tremblant restrictive)<\/h3>\n\n

Several Quebec cities impose their own zoning restrictions. In Montreal<\/strong>, short-term tourist accommodation is generally prohibited outside of a few designated commercial arteries. In Quebec City<\/strong>, entire sectors of Old Quebec and Saint-Roch are protected. In Mont-Tremblant<\/strong>, the municipality distinguishes between tourist zones (authorized) and residential zones (prohibited). In Gatineau<\/strong> and Sherbrooke<\/strong>, zoning by-laws and limits on the number of days per year are also in effect. Always check with your borough before submitting your CITQ application. <\/p>\n\n

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Always obtain your landlord’s WRITTEN agreement before any subletting<\/p>\n

An email is sufficient, but it must identify the subtenant (name, address), the duration, the amount of the rent and the intended use<\/strong>. Without this written agreement, you risk the termination of the lease for misrepresentation and \u2014 worse \u2014 exclusion from your tenant insurance in the event of a claim. Keep the exchange and attach it to your insurance file when you file the return. <\/p>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

<\/span>Why your standard renter’s insurance DOES NOT cover Airbnb<\/span><\/h2>\n\n

A tenant insurance<\/strong> policy is designed to protect a residential and stable<\/strong> occupant. As soon as you welcome paying guests or an undeclared subtenant, the insurer considers that the risk has changed \u2014 and coverage automatically jumps. Here are the main technical reasons. <\/p>\n\n

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