Quebec Condo Harassment: Policies and Recourse

Harassment and incivility in divided co-ownership weaken community life, disrupt annual general meetings and exhaust volunteer directors. Between neighbour disputes, threats and online intimidation campaigns, the syndicate must act methodically. This article, current as at 2026-08-10, explains the internal policies to adopt, the evidence to gather and the recourse available in Quebec.

Beyond a simple disagreement, certain behaviours cross the line: repeated disparaging remarks, intimidating following in common portions, written harassment by email, or interference with the work of the board of directors and the condominium manager. Preventing these problems starts with clear rules, consistent enforcement of the by-laws of the immovable and careful documentation (minutes, notices, formal demands).

Understanding harassment and incivility in a condo

Harassment is characterized by vexatious conduct, whether repeated or serious, that infringes on a person’s dignity, psychological integrity or peaceful enjoyment of the premises. In a divided co-ownership, it may target a co-owner, tenant, director or condominium manager.

Common examples include:

• Insulting or threatening messages in a group of co-owners or by email.
• Following someone in common portions, shouting, insults or aggressive gestures close to an assault.
• Defamatory postings in the lobby or harassment of a maintenance employee.
• Cyberharassment (rumours, doxxing or repeated posts targeting a person associated with the syndicate).

A distinction must be made between:

• Neighbour disturbances (noise, odours and smoke) governed by the obligation of normal tolerance between neighbours (see section 976 of the Civil Code of Quebec).
• Violations of the by-laws (for example, non-compliance with rules governing the use of common portions, pets or the pool), handled through the declaration of co-ownership and the by-laws of the immovable.
• Potentially criminal acts (serious threats, assaults or vandalism), which justify calling the police.

This distinction guides the choice of intervention: prevention and mediation for incivility, sanctions provided for in the by-laws for violations, and an injunction or civil recourse in cases of serious harm.

Applicable legal framework in Quebec

Quebec law provides several grounds for intervention:

• By-laws of the immovable and declaration of co-ownership: each co-owner must comply with them (see section 1063 of the Civil Code of Quebec). Well-drafted clauses provide for notices, graduated penalties and recovery of reasonable enforcement costs.
• Civil liability: anyone who causes harm through their fault or negligence may be required to compensate the injured party (see section 1457 of the Civil Code of Quebec). Defamatory statements or intimidating acts may give rise to such liability.
• Neighbour disturbances: no one may impose abnormal inconveniences on another person (see section 976 of the Civil Code of Quebec). Repeated harassing behaviour may constitute an abnormal inconvenience.
• Injunction and safeguard order: in an urgent situation or where harm is ongoing, the court may order a person to stop a behaviour (see section 509 of the Code of Civil Procedure).

Useful references:

• Civil Code of Quebec  section 976 (neighbour disturbances)
• Civil Code of Quebec  section 1063 (compliance with the by-laws)
• Civil Code of Quebec  section 1457 (civil liability)
• Code of Civil Procedure  section 509 (injunction)

The board of directors cannot evict a co-owner from their unit, but, with solid evidence, it can ask the court to stop a behaviour, impose conditions or order compliance with the by-laws. Where criminal offences are alleged, cooperation with the authorities remains essential.

Internal policies and prevention

An anti-harassment policy, adopted at an annual general meeting and incorporated into the by-laws of the immovable, clarifies expectations and the process for handling complaints. It should include:

• A plain-language definition of harassment and incivility, with examples.
• Channels for reporting a situation (a dedicated email address or confidential form).
• Review steps: acknowledgement of receipt, triage, evidence collection and a reasoned decision by the board of directors.
• Possible temporary measures (written warnings, reasonable restrictions on access to certain spaces where risks exist, and the channelling of communications with the board through a single point of contact).
• The scale of sanctions provided for in the by-laws (penalties, charging reasonable intervention costs and applying for an injunction in cases of recurrence).
• Protection against reprisals for complainants and witnesses acting in good faith.

To encourage civility:

• Periodically remind co-owners of the rules through a newsletter and post a code of conduct in the common portions.
• Set rules for digital communications (groups and bulletin boards): prohibit insults, establish clear moderation and remind people of available recourse.
• Train the meeting chair and secretary to manage debates at the annual general meeting; record every incident in the minutes.
• Provide for voluntary mediation before escalating to court proceedings whenever possible.

Consult our services to structure your rules, notices and governance: Administrative management and Operations management.

Role of the board of directors

• Ensure the uniform enforcement of the by-laws of the immovable and the declaration of co-ownership.
• Handle complaints diligently, impartially and confidentially.
• Issue notices and formal demands, then retain a lawyer when necessary.
• Ensure that files are maintained and evidence and minutes are preserved.

Role of the condominium manager

• Receive and record reports, prepare notices and coordinate the collection of admissible evidence.
• Advise the board of directors on the graduated scale of measures and on documentation.
• Organize mediation and meeting logistics to minimize disruptions.

Role of co-owners

• Comply with the by-laws and report documented breaches without confrontation.
• Keep screenshots, emails and witness statements, while avoiding illegal recordings.
• Participate in consultations when amendments to the by-laws are proposed.

For templates for notices, agendas and minutes, browse the multiRent Blog and our About Us page.

What to do after an incident: evidence and process

A gradual, well-documented approach makes it possible to intervene effectively while respecting everyone’s rights.

1) Ensure safety and document the incident

• Protect the people involved. Call the police if serious threats or an assault are alleged.
• Keep an incident log (dates, locations and witnesses). Preserve emails, letters and screenshots.
• If cameras monitor common portions, have the footage recorded and extracted in accordance with the adopted policy. Avoid clandestine recordings in private portions.

2) Written notice and warning

• Send a notice reminding the person of the applicable rules (specific sections of the by-laws/declaration of co-ownership) and demanding that the behaviour stop.
• Allow a reasonable deadline and propose a meeting or mediation in the presence of a neutral third party.

3) Formal demand

• In the event of recurrence, a formal demand should set out the facts, the documents in the file and the requirement to stop. Mention the possible sanctions provided for in the by-laws and the legal recourse being considered.

4) Sanctions under the by-laws and collection

• Apply the penalties provided for in the by-laws of the immovable, respecting graduated enforcement and the evidence.
• Charge the offender the reasonable intervention costs provided for (for example, notice and bailiff fees), where permitted by the declaration of co-ownership.
• Collect the amounts through the statement of account, in the same manner as certain overdue assessments, using the authorized mechanisms.

5) Legal recourse

• Apply for an injunction (an order to do or not to do something) when harassing behaviour continues despite internal measures (see section 509 of the Code of Civil Procedure).
• Bring a civil action for damages if demonstrable harm has been suffered (see section 1457 of the Civil Code of Quebec).
• Prepare a comprehensive file: minutes, notices, formal demands, correspondence, photos, authorized footage and witness statements.

Good practices for managing the file

• Centralize all communications through an official syndicate email address.
• Avoid impulsive exchanges. Respond factually, through the condominium manager if necessary.
• Keep detailed minutes of board of directors decisions. Avoid debates by text message or in unofficial groups.
• Review the policy regularly and train the board of directors after every significant incident.

FAQ — Harassment and incivility in a divided co-ownership

Q1. Can the board of directors impose fines for harassment?

Yes, if the declaration of co-ownership and the by-laws of the immovable clearly provide for penalties, their graduated application and the charging of certain enforcement costs. The notice must be documented and proportionate. Otherwise, prioritize a formal demand and an injunction.

Q2. Can we film or record an incident to prove what happened?

Cameras monitoring common portions must be authorized by the syndicate and used under a policy governing retention and access. Avoid recording private conversations without consent. Prefer witnesses, emails and bailiff’s reports.

Q3. What should we do if the harasser is a director?

Require the director to recuse themselves from any vote or deliberation related to the matter. The rest of the board of directors may retain a lawyer or mediator. At an annual general meeting, an independent meeting chair may be appointed to manage the exchanges, and every incident must be recorded in the minutes.

Q4. Can a complaint target a tenant?

Yes. The co-owner who is the landlord remains responsible for their tenant’s conduct with respect to the by-laws of the immovable. Send the notice to the landlord and, if necessary, apply for an injunction requiring the behaviour to stop.

This article provides general information and does not constitute legal advice. Consult a lawyer or notary regarding your situation.

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