How much do apartments cost in Montreal? Premier says they 'start at around $500, 600$'

When asked how much an apartment in Montreal costs, Quebec's premier answered by saying it depends on the size of the unit, "but I would say it can maybe start at around $500, $600 per month."

That answer is not sitting well with tenants' rights groups.

Legault made the comments while being questioned by Manon Massé, the co-spokesperson of Québec Solidaire, during a National Assembly commission studying the province's latest budget Wednesday.

On Facebook, the social housing group Front d'action populaire en réaménagement urbain (FRAPRU) said the premier's remarks all but confirm that the Quebec government is out of touch with the realities that renters in and around the city face.

"For months, FRAPRU has written memoirs, letters, press releases, frequently reiterating how expensive apartments are," the group's statement read.

"This response from the premier confirms the perception that housing rights groups have of a lack of interest, of ignorance, not to mention a disconnect from the realities experienced by tenant households."

Legault defended himself to journalists Thursday morning, saying they misinterpreted what he said.

"I want to be clear," Legault said. "The question of Manon Massé was about the rent that will be paid by students coming back next September in our schools, colleges or universities.

"What I said is that the rent for a student starts at $500 to $600 a month and it gets to $1,000 fast. Many students are two, three, four together to pay the rent."

Though Massé began her questioning by mentioning students would be returning to the city in September, the question itself was: "Do you know what the average price is for rent in Montreal?"

Legault said Thursday his Coalition Avenir Québec government is doing more than the previous Liberal government by financing the previous government's plan to build 15,000 social housing units. He said more than 3,000 have so far been built and another 3,400 are on their way.

He said it was unfair for journalists to make him seem out of touch with the average Quebecer's reality.

"I have many friends who are very middle class. I'm very connected to reality."

When journalists asked how a poor single mother on welfare could afford Montreal's rising rents, he demurred and said his government was already doing more than the one before and that Quebec would see an "economic boom" in the coming months.

Rents in Montreal rose 4.2% from 2019 to 2020

According to the latest rental market report from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), published in January, the average rent in the greater Montreal area in 2020 was $891 — an increase of 4.2 per cent compared to 2019.

The CMHC says that is the largest single-year increase in the greater Montreal area since 2003.

The average rent for a two-bedroom apartment is $903 and the average for a three-bedroom unit is $1,112.

The vacancy rate increased during the pandemic to 2.7 per cent, up from the 1.5-per-cent mark the previous year, which was a 15-year-low.

If the premier knew about these numbers, "maybe he would be more inclined to finance a real construction site of social housing units," FRAPRU said.

The group also wants the government to impose stricter rent controls and a lease registry to slow the disappearance of affordable rental units.

Last Saturday, housing rights groups organized protests in several cities, including Montreal, to denounce what it described as the government's inaction when it came to the lack of affordable housing.

While questioning the premier, Massé mentioned the large encampment of homeless Montrealers that was set up east of downtown last year. It took months for residents to leave the encampment, despite efforts by the city and the province to offer them alternatives.

Massé said the government should expect a similar camp to be set up this year, given its inaction when it comes to affordable housing.

"We've been telling you about a housing crisis for two years," Massé said. "And what? We're going to freak out when tents are going to grow on the side of the highway in the coming months? It's already started."

There are roughly 12,000 social housing units in Quebec promised by previous governments that are awaiting completion. The latest provincial budget only provides enough funding to ensure that 5,000 of those units will be completed in the coming years.