Who Pays for the Exterminator in Quebec — Landlord or Tenant?

Published April 7, 2026 · Extermination DMP

This is one of the most searched pest control questions in Quebec — and the answer is straightforward.

The Short Answer

The landlord pays. Under the Civil Code of Quebec (articles 1854 and 1910), the landlord is obligated to maintain the rental dwelling in habitable condition throughout the lease. A pest infestation — whether mice, bed bugs, cockroaches, or any other pest — is a habitability issue. The cost of extermination falls on the landlord.

This is not optional. It is not negotiable. It is the law.

What the Law Actually Says

Article 1854 of the Civil Code of Quebec states that the lessor (landlord) is bound to deliver the dwelling in a good state of repair and to maintain it throughout the lease. This includes keeping the dwelling free from conditions that are dangerous to the health or safety of the occupants. Article 1910 states that the lessee (tenant) can apply to the Tribunal administratif du logement (TAL) if the dwelling is in a condition that renders it unfit for habitation.

Pest infestations have been consistently recognized by the TAL as conditions that affect habitability.

What This Means in Practice

What the Landlord Must Do

Hire and pay for a licensed exterminator
Ensure the exterminator is MELCCFP-certified (Quebec Ministry of Environment)
Cover the cost of all necessary treatments, including follow-up visits
Address structural issues that contribute to the infestation (sealing entry points, repairing foundation cracks)
If the infestation is building-wide (common with bed bugs and cockroaches), treat all affected units — not just the one that complained

What the Tenant Must Do

Notify the landlord of the pest issue in writing (email with photos is sufficient)
Cooperate with treatment preparation (moving furniture, laundering items for bed bug treatment)
Allow access to the unit for the exterminator
Maintain reasonable cleanliness (though pests are NOT caused by dirty tenants — this is a myth)

What to Do If Your Landlord Refuses

This happens more often than it should. Here is the process:

Step 1: Written Notice

Send your landlord an email or letter describing the pest problem. Include:

What pest you are seeing
Where you are seeing it (rooms, areas)
When it started
Photos of evidence (droppings, bugs, damage, bites)
A clear request for professional extermination within a reasonable timeframe (10-15 business days)

Keep a copy of everything you send.

Step 2: Follow Up

If the landlord does not respond within 15 days or refuses to act, send a second notice referencing your first communication and stating that you will contact the TAL if the issue is not addressed.

Step 3: Contact the TAL

File an application with the Tribunal administratif du logement. You can:

Request that the landlord be ordered to hire an exterminator
Request a rent reduction for the period you lived with the infestation
In extreme cases, request lease termination if the dwelling is unfit for habitation

The TAL has been very receptive to tenant pest complaints. Decisions consistently favor tenants when landlords fail to act on documented infestations.

Step 4: Municipal Reporting

You can also report the issue to your borough or city. Montreal, Longueuil, and other South Shore municipalities have environmental health departments that can inspect the property and issue orders to the landlord.

For bed bugs specifically, the City of Montreal requires landlords to file a declaration and treat the infestation.

Common Landlord Excuses — and Why They Are Wrong

"You brought the bed bugs in." — It does not matter how the bed bugs arrived. Once they are in the dwelling, it is the landlord's responsibility to treat them. The tenant is not required to prove the source of the infestation. "I already treated once." — If the treatment did not work, the landlord is responsible for additional treatments until the problem is resolved. One failed treatment does not satisfy the obligation. "Just buy traps yourself." — Self-help with over-the-counter products is not a substitute for professional treatment and does not relieve the landlord of their legal obligation. "It's the tenant above you." — Building-wide pest issues require building-wide treatment. The landlord cannot treat one unit and ignore the source. If the infestation originates in another unit, that is still the landlord's problem to solve.

Can the Tenant Hire an Exterminator and Deduct from Rent?

Technically, yes — but proceed with caution. Under Quebec law, a tenant can perform urgent and necessary work and deduct the cost from rent if the landlord fails to act after written notice. However:

Document everything
The work must be truly necessary (not cosmetic)
The cost must be reasonable
You should ideally have the landlord's written refusal before proceeding
For amounts over a few hundred dollars, consider going through the TAL first

The safest route is always to go through the TAL rather than unilaterally deducting from rent.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the landlord have to pay for bed bug preparation costs (laundry, dry cleaning)?

The TAL has awarded tenants compensation for preparation costs in some decisions, but it is not guaranteed. Keep receipts for all expenses related to treatment preparation and include them in your TAL application.

What if my landlord says the pest problem is my fault because I am messy?

Cleanliness is not a factor in bed bug infestations — bed bugs are attracted to carbon dioxide and body heat, not dirt. For mice and cockroaches, while sanitation helps, the landlord is still responsible for structural exclusion and professional treatment regardless of the tenant's housekeeping.

Got a pest problem?

Extermination DMP serves Montreal, the South Shore, Laval & the West Island — 24/7.

Call 438-879-5706