Updated: April 2025  |  bremo.io financial guides

Investment Property in Quebec City: Plexes, Rentals, and Returns

Quebec City is one of Canada's most investor-friendly real estate markets. The combination of relatively affordable purchase prices, stable rental demand, low vacancy rates, and a large urban population of renters creates attractive conditions for real estate investors. The plex (multi-unit property) investing model is particularly well-developed in Quebec City.

The Quebec Plex Investment Model

Quebec has a strong tradition of plex ownership — buying a duplex, triplex, or quadruplex, living in one unit, and renting the others. This "house hacking" approach allows buyers to:

• Qualify for a mortgage based on the rental income from other units
• Offset housing costs significantly — sometimes entirely
• Build equity in a multi-unit property with appreciation on the full asset value
• Gain landlord experience in a property they already manage day-to-day

Plex Prices in Quebec City (2025)

• Duplex: $350,000–$500,000
• Triplex: $420,000–$650,000
• Quadruplex: $500,000–$750,000
• Larger (5+ units): $700,000–$1,200,000+

Prices are dramatically lower than Toronto and Montreal for comparable rental properties, creating better cap rates for Quebec City investors.

Rental Market Conditions

Quebec City's rental market has extremely low vacancy rates — typically 1–2% — among the lowest in Canada. Driving demand:

• Laval University: 45,000+ students generate continuous demand
• Government employees and seasonal workers
• Immigrants and newcomers who rent before buying
• Tourism-adjacent short-term rental demand (subject to regulation)

Tenant Protection Laws in Quebec

Quebec has strong tenant protections through the Tribunal administratif du logement (TAL):

• Rent increases are regulated annually
• Tenants have right of first refusal when leases end
• Eviction for personal use requires specific notice periods and compensation

These protections make Quebec City a stable but somewhat constrained landlord environment. Investors should factor these rules into their analysis and management expectations.

Welcome Tax for Investment Properties

Quebec's welcome tax (droits de mutation): 0.5% on the first $52,800, 1% from $52,800 to $264,000, and 1.5% on the amount above $264,000. Quebec City applies no additional municipal surtax — unlike Montreal which adds 3% above $500,000.

Investment property buyers pay the same welcome tax rates. There is no first-time buyer rebate on investment properties — only principal residences qualify.