A tenant in an apartment building in Quebec City advises the property manager that they will be deducting the cost of a necessary repair from their next month's rent because the property manager did not respond to their maintenance request for a broken refrigerator within a reasonable timeframe. The tenant provides receipts for the repair. What should the property manager primarily advise the tenant?

Question: A tenant in an apartment building in Quebec City advises the property manager that they will be deducting the cost of a necessary repair from their next month's rent because the property manager did not respond to their maintenance request for a broken refrigerator within a reasonable timeframe. The tenant provides receipts for the repair. What should the property manager primarily advise the tenant?

Answer options:

• The tenant is entitled to deduct the repair cost if the repair was essential and the landlord failed to act. ✅ The tenant is not permitted to unilaterally deduct repair costs from rent; formal procedures must be followed.
• The property manager will pay for the repair reimbursement in a separate transaction, but the rent must be paid in full.
• The tenant should have waited longer for the property manager's response before proceeding with the repair.

Correct answer: The tenant is not permitted to unilaterally deduct repair costs from rent; formal procedures must be followed.

Explanation: In most Canadian jurisdictions, including Quebec, tenants cannot unilaterally deduct repair costs from rent. They must follow specific legal procedures, such as applying to the Régie du logement (or equivalent tribunal) to authorize the repair and/or a rent reduction, as unauthorized deductions can be considered non-payment of rent.