When do you have to move out after selling a house in Quebec?

Is there a set number of days to move out after selling a house in Quebec?

No. There is no standard delay. The OACIQ, which regulates real estate brokerage in Quebec, explains that the promise to purchase states two separate dates: the date the deed of sale is signed before the notary, and the date and time the buyer can occupy the house. They “may be the same, but they may also differ by a few days, weeks or months.” Both are negotiated.

The buyer becomes the owner when the deed is signed. The keys are customarily handed over that day, but they can be handed over on the occupancy date instead, and the OACIQ says this should be made clear before going to the notary. Brokers must use the OACIQ’s promise to purchase forms; if you sell directly, put the same two dates, and the time, in your written agreement.

Can I stay in the house after signing at the notary?

Yes, if the buyer agrees and it is written into the promise to purchase. From the signing date until you leave, you pay the buyer a monthly compensation. The OACIQ is clear that this is a compensation, not rent: the wording is chosen so that seller and buyer do not become landlord and tenant under the housing rules.

While you stay, you keep paying heating, electricity and upkeep, and you give the buyer proof of civil liability insurance. The amount is agreed in advance and the notary deducts it in the adjustments, by months and days, and the OACIQ tells brokers to write a specific monthly amount, not “to be negotiated.”

What if I move out before the occupancy date?

You can, but the house remains your responsibility until the date in the promise. The OACIQ residential promise to purchase form says that a seller who vacates early remains responsible for keeping the house in the condition it was in when the buyer visited it, unless the parties agreed otherwise.

What do I have to leave in the house when I move out?

Everything listed as included, and in working order. The OACIQ’s seller guide asks sellers, before leaving, to make sure everything included in the promise to purchase is there and works. The OACIQ states that heating, electrical and lighting fixtures that are part of the house are included unless you expressly exclude them. Article 903 of the Civil Code of Québec says that movables permanently attached to the house, without losing their individuality, are part of the immovable for as long as they remain there (Civil Code of Québec, article 903). Anything not permanently attached, such as appliances, blinds or a hot tub, stays or goes according to what the promise says, so the OACIQ recommends describing those items precisely (brand, colour, serial number).

The form also says the house must be left free of anything not included in the sale; otherwise the buyer may have it removed at the seller’s expense. Rented equipment, such as a water heater, alarm system or heat pump, is not yours to sell: either the buyer takes over the contract, if it allows that, or the item is excluded. If you heat with oil, it is customary to fill the tank a few days before the sale so the notary can adjust the fuel.

When does the seller get the money after the notary?

Usually a few days after signing, not at the table. According to the Chambre des notaires du Québec, the buyer’s money goes into the notary’s trust account. Before paying you, the notary must make sure the deed is registered at the land registry office, which “generally requires 24 hours,” and that no undisclosed amount is owed to a creditor, such as a mortgage balance. “Normally, the notary only holds these funds for a few days.”

Your mortgage is paid from the sale price: the notary repays the lender and has the hypothec discharged, at the seller’s expense. Municipal and school taxes are customarily split as of the signing date (municipal taxes run January 1 to December 31, school taxes July 1 to June 30). What you receive is the balance. If you need that money for your next home or for movers, plan around those few days. The other costs are in the post on what it costs to sell a house (The real costs of selling a house in Quebec).

What if there are tenants in the house?

Then they are not the ones moving out because of the sale. Under article 1937 of the Civil Code of Québec (Civil Code of Québec, article 1937), selling the property does not end a residential lease; the new owner steps into the landlord’s shoes. The Tribunal administratif du logement adds that any repossession of a dwelling is started by the new owner, under its rules, once the sale is completed and not simply when a promise to purchase is signed. Don’t promise the buyer an empty unit you cannot deliver; say who lives there.

How far ahead does the move-out date get set?

When you list, the date depends first on how long it takes to find a buyer. In September 2026, single-family houses on the Island of Montreal took 55 days on average from listing to an accepted offer (52 a year earlier), and 41 days across the Montreal metropolitan area, according to the Quebec Professional Association of Real Estate Brokers monthly statistics (QPAREB September 2026 monthly statistics). The occupancy date is then negotiated in the promise, and the notary needs time to prepare: the OACIQ puts a new certificate of location at four to six weeks on average, and the notary should have it at least 20 days before signing. The full sequence is in How fast can you sell a house in Montreal? (How fast can you sell a house in Montreal?).

What should I update before moving day?

Two Quebec services save most of the calls. Hydro-Québec lets you save $25 by doing it online in its Customer Space; doing it by phone costs $25 plus tax, and it sends a reminder by email about a week before. The Government of Québec’s address-change service sends one notice to seven bodies, including Revenu Québec, the RAMQ, the SAAQ and Élections Québec.

How does the move-out date work when you sell to Bruce?

Bruce Malcolm is a private buyer of houses in Montreal and the West Island. He is not a broker, an agent or an appraiser. With his offer there are no showings, and you choose the closing date once the notary can sign. You can leave what you do not want in the house. If you need to stay a while after signing, say so when you send the address, so the date and the terms are written down before the notary appointment, as in any Quebec sale.