Montreal has thousands of vacant units as landlords and advocates dispute the cause

A new RadioCanada analysis of HydroQuébec electricity data suggests Montreal has about 25,000 vacant residential units, even as the city faces a housing shortage. Tenant advocates say high rents, speculative investment and legal loopholes may be keeping apartments empty. They argue many units are built or held for profit rather than to meet tenant needs, and that some landlords can raise rents sharply after a unit has been vacant for more than a year. Landlord groups dispute that view, saying rent controls, maintenance costs and construction delays make owners reluctant to lower prices. Some property managers also say tighter immigration policies have reduced demand from foreign students and new residents, especially in higherpriced buildings. Montreal officials are considering a tax on vacant dwellings as one possible response.