Achi news desk-
The Quebec bar’s legal clinic says it will begin offering more free housing advice to people in need ahead of move-in day on July 1.
The order made the announcement on Tuesday and said it would open 500 additional slots.
“These are law students who become lawyers in a few months, who are under the supervision of experienced lawyers, and they give legal advice to clients,” said Catherine Ouimet, executive director of the Quebec Bar Association.
She explains that the benefits will hopefully be twofold.
“This is a very good opportunity for them to study law and learn how to meet clients, how to give legal advice,” Ouimet tells CTV News. “Given the housing crisis that is happening right now, we thought it would be very appropriate for the bar in Quebec to open more appointments specifically for housing matters.”
Ouimet says the clinic tends to get more requests from tenants needing help than homeowners asking for advice.
“At this time of year, it’s usually about increasing their commission,” she said. “They ask if this is normal, the increase is too great; recently we have seen a lot of renovations, so apartment owners are trying to return the housing for renovations and the return is also illegal.”
A wrongful claim involves when a homeowner says they are repossessing a home to use as a primary residence for themselves or a family member, but then put it back on the market a few months later with an increased price.
The clinic will offer free in-person appointments in English and French at its centers in Montreal, Quebec City, Gatineau and Sherbrooke.
It will also offer virtual meetings for those who cannot attend in person.
“The most important [thing to do] It’s, first, talking to their landlord and making sure they have all the information,” Ouimet said. “Then they can deal or not based on the information they get. Therefore, it is important that they have all the information before they enter the legal clinic or enter any court on these issues.”
Anyone who wants to make an appointment is invited to visit the Quebec Bar Legal Clinic website.
