What is Moving Day in Quebec?
There are lots of reasons why you might choose to move. Maybe you’re starting a family, starting your career or changing jobs.
If you live in Quebec and rent your home, chances are that at some point, your lease will end on June 30 and you’ll move on July 1, Moving Day.
This means you could be 1 of thousands and thousands of people all moving on the same day.
The history of Moving Day
In 1750, French settler and New France intendant François Bigot declared May 1 to be Moving Day. The date became part of Quebec civil code in 1866. In 1974, the Quebec government allowed landlords and tenants to start and end leases on any date and provided a transitional grace period by extending all leases from April 30 to June 30. All these years later, July 1 continues to be Moving Day.
Moving day tips
- Know your building rules – Landlords may have specific time restrictions or curfews for tenants moving in and out. Make sure you know the rules for both your old and new building.
- Clearly label your boxes – Labelling all the things you’re moving will make packing and unpacking easier, especially for essentials like toiletries and important documents.
- Move everything you can yourself – It may be really difficult to find movers on Moving Day so try to move smaller and more delicate items yourself.
- Check your tenant insurance – Make sure your tenant insurance covers your new home in case anything goes wrong.
- Check and recheck your old place – Because moving day can be stressful, check every cupboard and closet to ensure you’re not forgetting anything.
- Recycle what you don’t need – If you have electronics, tires, construction materials, or stuff like old paint, take it to an eco-centre so it doesn’t end up in a landfill
- .Remember to change your address – You can use this website to change your address for:
- Élections Québec
- Ministère du Travail, de l’Emploi et de la Solidarité sociale
- Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec
- Retraite Québec
- Revenu Québec
- Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec
- You can change your address for Hydro-Quebec here.