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Owner tool — Quebec

What does a TAL eviction really cost — and how long does it take?

Estimate procedural costs (TAL filing, bailiff, representation) and realistic weeks to vacant possession by ground of eviction, tenant cooperation, and representation level.

Eviction scenario

Your inputs

Total already unpaid.

Enter the ground and monthly rent to get an estimate.

How the estimate works

Three drivers behind every TAL eviction

The total cost and time of an eviction depend heavily on three inputs that the tool combines:

  • 1. Ground of eviction

    Non-payment is the fastest path (documentary proof is straightforward, hearings prioritized). Behaviour and false-declaration cases require more evidence and run 2-3× longer.

  • 2. Tenant cooperation

    A tenant who contests the file adds 2-8 weeks of hearing delay and ~$250-$800 in forced enforcement. A cooperative tenant who leaves on decision saves both.

  • 3. Representation

    Self-representation is free but raises the risk of procedural errors (defective formal demand, missing evidence). An OACIQ broker or lawyer costs $500-$4,500 but materially raises success odds — often less than the cost of losing a case.

Frequently asked questions

Practical answers for tenants and owners across Greater Montreal.

How long does a TAL eviction realistically take in Quebec?
For a simple non-payment case: 4-8 weeks to hearing, 0-12 weeks to a final decision, then 2-6 weeks for enforcement. Total: 6-26 weeks. Behaviour or sublet cases run 12-36 weeks. A contesting tenant adds 2-8 weeks. No eviction in Quebec is fast.
Why does the tool show a cost range instead of a single number?
Every variable has a realistic range: bailiff fees vary by region and complexity, representation depends on hours and scope, and forced enforcement is only billed if the tenant doesn't leave voluntarily. Showing ranges keeps the estimate honest — single-number tools systematically underestimate.
Can I represent myself at the TAL?
Yes. Most simple non-payment cases are self-represented. For behaviour, false-declaration, or multi-ground cases, representation by a lawyer or OACIQ broker significantly increases success odds and tends to cost less than the loss of a poorly-prepared case.
What if the tenant leaves voluntarily after the decision?
Best-case scenario — you skip the forced enforcement step ($250-$800 in bailiff costs and 2-6 extra weeks). The decision must still be served by bailiff to start time limits, and the tenant has 30 days to appeal. Most tenants who lose at TAL do leave once they receive the served decision.
Are unpaid rent and damages recoverable after eviction?
Recoverable in theory — the TAL grants a money judgment that can be enforced through wage garnishment, bank account seizure, or asset seizure. In practice, recovery depends entirely on the tenant's solvency post-eviction. Plan for partial recovery at best on judgments under $10,000.
How does AA Location reduce the timeline and risk?
Our OACIQ broker drafts the formal demand, files at the TAL with all required exhibits, represents at the hearing, and coordinates bailiffs post-decision. We don't shorten the TAL's calendar, but we eliminate the procedural errors (defective formal demand, weak evidence, missed deadlines) that lose 30-40% of self-represented files.

AA Location — TAL file management

Don't risk a procedural loss

Our OACIQ broker drafts the formal demand, files at the TAL, represents at the hearing, and coordinates bailiffs. Procedural errors lose 30-40% of self-represented files.

Free consultation