In Québec, most residential leases end on June 30, and a great many new ones begin on July 1. The result is Moving Day: streets fill with trucks, elevators are booked, and everyone needs something delivered at the same moment, whether keys, lease papers, a missing part or a forgotten box. This guide sets out what the Tribunal administratif du logement (TAL) said about July 1 in 2026, what that means for key hand-offs and deliveries, and how to plan a courier job that has to happen on the busiest day of the housing calendar.
Quick answer
- The TAL says the majority of residential leases in Québec end on June 30, which produces many moves on July 1.
- Its reminders for 2026: a new tenant's right to occupy begins on the first day of the lease, a departing tenant has no grace day, an outgoing tenant who has not finished must give the new tenant access, and the landlord must deliver the unit in good condition on the agreed date.
- In 2026 the TAL offered telephone service on July 1 with reduced staff and no in-person counters, and reopened on July 2. Check its arrangements each year.
- For a courier, keys and lease papers are the most time-sensitive items. Name the recipient, require a signature, and never leave keys in a mailbox or at a door.
- Book early, give both addresses, and tell the courier about elevators, loading rules and a contact who will be on site.
What the TAL Says About July 1
The Government of Québec published the TAL's July 1 message on June 25, 2026. The points that matter to anyone planning a delivery are:
| Topic | What the TAL said in 2026 |
|---|---|
| Lease end date | The majority of residential leases in Québec end on June 30, which is why so many moves happen on July 1 |
| New tenant | The right to occupy the unit begins on the first day of the lease |
| Departing tenant | There is no grace day. The unit must be returned in the condition in which it was received |
| Overlap | If the outgoing tenant has not finished moving out, they must give the new tenant access, ideally by clearing one or more rooms |
| Landlord | Must deliver the unit in good condition on the agreed date and should check its condition after the previous tenant leaves |
| TAL service on July 1, 2026 | Telephone legal technicians from 8:30 to 12:00 and 13:00 to 16:30, with reduced staffing. No in-person counter service. Offices reopened on Thursday, July 2 |
For July 1, 2026, the TAL gave 514 873-BAIL (2245) for Montréal, Laval and Longueuil and 1 800 683-BAIL (2245) for other regions. Its website and automated telephone system are available at any time. The TAL also encouraged tenants and landlords to coordinate the move courteously and to exercise their rights reasonably. A courier cannot settle a dispute between tenants and landlords, but a clear, signed hand-off of keys removes one common cause of them.
Why Moving Day Is Hard on Deliveries
Nothing here is unique to couriers; it is simply what a very busy day does to a city. Plan for these effects:
- Curb space is scarce. Moving trucks occupy the curb and the lane. A courier may have to park farther away and carry the item.
- Elevators and loading docks are shared. Many buildings ask movers to reserve them. A delivery with no reservation may wait.
- Recipients are busy or unreachable. A person in the middle of a move may not hear a buzzer or answer an unknown number.
- Addresses change mid-day. The recipient may be at the old address in the morning and the new one by afternoon.
- Everyone books for the same hours. Early afternoon is a crowded slot for key hand-offs, and same-day capacity is limited.
What People Actually Need Delivered
| Item | Typical situation | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Keys | From a landlord or agent to a new tenant, or from a departing tenant back to the landlord | Name the recipient, count the keys on the receipt and obtain a signature with the time. Do not leave keys with a neighbour or in a mailbox |
| Lease and insurance papers | A signed lease, an insurance certificate or a form that must arrive before the keys are released | Use a sealed envelope and a named recipient. For originals, see original documents and wet-ink signatures |
| Parts and small items | A hose, a bracket, a cable, a replacement part or a forgotten box needed in the new place | Give both addresses and the access details for the one that is in use |
| Office equipment | A small business or professional office moving on July 1 | List serial numbers. For laptops and drives, see shipping data devices securely |
| Time-sensitive medical or legal items | A prescription, a sample or a court document that cannot wait for the move | Say so at booking. See booking an urgent courier |
A Key Hand-Off Done Properly
- Agree the time with the lease in mind. The TAL says the new tenant's right to occupy begins on the first day of the lease and that the departing tenant has no grace day. A hand-off scheduled before the lease starts, or after it ends, invites a dispute.
- Name the person who receives the keys and give the courier a phone number that will be answered.
- Count the keys and write the number on the receipt. Include fobs, mailbox keys and access cards.
- Get a signature, a printed name and the time. A photo of the signed receipt sent by email gives the sender proof within minutes. See delivery verification.
- Plan for no answer. Decide in advance whether the courier waits, returns to a safe location, or calls the sender. Keys are not left unattended.
Booking Checklist for Moving Day
- Pickup and delivery addresses, and which one is in use at the time of the job.
- The time window, as narrow as you can make it, and what happens if it is missed.
- Floor, elevator and loading-zone rules at each address, and any reservation number.
- A named contact at each end with a phone number that will be answered.
- The size, weight and number of pieces, and whether anything is fragile.
- Access details such as door codes, intercom names and parking instructions.
- A backup contact, because the person moving is often the person who is hardest to reach.
For a downtown pickup, our guide to downtown Montréal delivery explains access and timing, and for real-estate paperwork see courier services for real estate and notaries.
Before and After July 1
- June 28 to 30: deliver anything that can arrive early, such as documents, spare keys, equipment and supplies for the new place.
- July 1: keep jobs short and specific. Narrow windows, named recipients and a courier who has the access details.
- July 2 and 3: expect a backlog of deliveries that were held for the move, and book them early.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do most leases end in Québec?
The TAL says the majority of residential leases in Québec end on June 30, which is why so many moves take place on July 1.
When can a new tenant move in?
The TAL says the new tenant's right to occupy the unit begins on the first day of the lease. If the outgoing tenant has not finished moving out, they must give the new tenant access, ideally by clearing one or more rooms.
Does the departing tenant get extra time on July 1?
No. The TAL says a departing tenant has no grace day and must return the unit in the condition in which it was received.
Can a courier deliver keys on Moving Day?
Yes, with a named recipient, a count of the keys on the receipt and a signed, time-stamped hand-off. Keys should never be left in a mailbox, at a door or with a neighbour. Book early, because July 1 is one of the busiest days of the year.
Is the TAL open on July 1?
In 2026 the TAL offered telephone service from 8:30 to 12:00 and 13:00 to 16:30 with reduced staffing, offered no in-person counter service, and reopened on July 2. Its arrangements may differ in other years, so check its website.
Plan the Hand-Off, Not Just the Drive
On July 1 the delivery itself is usually simple. What goes wrong is the hand-off: the wrong time, the wrong person or no record. A narrow window, a named recipient and a signed receipt keep a busy day from turning into a dispute.
Rush Expedited Courier delivers across Montréal every day of the year, and dispatch answers around the clock. Put your Moving Day job in the quote form early; our courier services page shows what else we run.
Sources and Further Reading
Facts on this page were checked against the sources below on October 28, 2026.