Finding a Quebec tenant who left without a forwarding address

What should a landlord do when the tenant appears to have left?

Do not infer abandonment from one clue. Document unpaid rent, contact attempts, returned keys, witness information, utility status, and any message announcing departure. Before entering, changing locks, or handling belongings, confirm the right to retake possession; a mistake can turn a recovery file into a claim against the landlord.

Gather information already held lawfully: the full name shown on the lease, former address, supplied contact details, date of birth if collected for a permitted purpose, authorized employment or landlord references, TAL file number, and any judgment. Do not accumulate information unrelated to the notification or enforcement purpose.

Prepare the amount as well: rent due, re-rental date, mitigation efforts, damage beyond ordinary wear, and supporting records. Finding an address does not repair a poorly documented claim.

What does the Centre d'Enquêtes Civiles du Québec offer?

The Centre d'Enquêtes Civiles du Québec presents itself as a search and identification service for landlords, lawyers, businesses, and public bodies. Its website says its investigators are registered with Quebec's Bureau de la sécurité privée and that certain debtor searches draw on databases including the RDPRM and SOQUIJ.

This is a third-party business, not part of the TAL and not a Gestion Velora partner. Before sending a file, verify the agency or investigator's current licence, written mandate, price, definition of a successful result, retention policy, and information to be disclosed. The Centre's website says some search information is retained for five years.

No trace guarantees a usable address or solvency. Ask for enough detail to prevent a mistaken identity while limiting the report to information necessary for the stated legitimate purpose.

What happens after a new address is found?

Give the report to the bailiff or professional arranging notification and confirm that the address belongs to the debtor in question. Keep the mandate, invoice, and notification proof. Some reasonable expenses may be recoverable depending on the proceeding, but they are not automatically awarded.

If the search fails, do not publish the tenant's information or pressure unrelated family and contacts. A bailiff or legal professional can assess alternative notification, a Tribunal application, and whether further recovery is economical. Limitation periods continue to matter even when a debtor is difficult to locate.