Intergenerational homesharing in Quebec: from spare rooms to seniors' residences

Two ways of sharing a roof

The first model resembles schemes in the United Kingdom or the United States: the older person stays at home and lets a room to a student. The second is distinctly Québécois, placing students inside a private seniors' residence, known locally as an RPA, where they volunteer instead of paying rent.

Quebec also coined the term kangaroo housing and has a long tradition of two-generation homes, where an older parent lives in a self-contained unit attached to an adult child's house. That arrangement is a family matter governed by municipal zoning rather than a matching service.

Combo2Générations in Montreal

In Montreal, the organisation Combo2Générations matches students with older residents who have a spare room. In this model, featured by Noovo Info in November 2022, the student pays rent. The same report noted that about a third of Montrealers aged 65 and over live alone.

What researchers are studying

The Centre collégial d'expertise en gérontologie, led by Nathalie Mercier, studies these initiatives and was following three residences in the province. Its work looks at loneliness, cost-of-living pressure on students and age-related prejudice, which daily contact helps to break down.

Demand from retirees

In August 2023, an association of retired public-sector employees published a survey of about 5,000 members. Nearly half of respondents aged 55 and over wanted a web platform for matching, and around 90 percent lived in a house or their own apartment.

Students living in seniors' residences

Several RPAs now host one or two students. In Quebec City, Jardins Saint-Sacrement housed two Université Laval students. Groupe Libertia offered the arrangement in three residences: Marie-Rose in L'Épiphanie, La Belle Époque in La Prairie and Les Jardins Latourelle in Louiseville.

What does a residence room cost?

Nothing in cash. According to a July 2023 report, students receive lodging, meals and wireless internet in exchange for about ten hours of volunteering a week: shared dinners, activities and outings. They do not replace care staff or cleaning services.

The Échanges entre générations grant

Since 2018, Quebec's youth secretariat has funded such projects. The 2026-2027 guide offers up to 30,000 dollars to host one student and 50,000 dollars for two, over nine to twelve months. Participants aged 15 to 35 contribute roughly 35 volunteer hours a month.

Who can apply for funding?

Non-profits, co-operatives and RPAs certified by the provincial health ministry, registered in Quebec for at least a year. The grant covers up to 80 percent of eligible costs for non-profits and 60 percent for private residences, which must fund the remainder.

Renting a room under Quebec law

The Civil Code of Québec protects residential tenants, but article 1892 carves out a room in the landlord's own dwelling when no more than two rooms are let and the room has neither a separate outside exit nor its own sanitary facilities.

Why that exception matters

In that case, several protections specific to residential leases, such as the right to remain in the premises and rent review by the Tribunal administratif du logement, do not apply in the usual way. The agreement is still a lease governed by the general rules of the Code.

What if the host is a tenant?

An older tenant must check the lease: subletting part of a dwelling requires notifying the landlord, who cannot refuse without a serious reason. Disputes go to the housing tribunal, where hearings can take months, so getting written agreement first saves time.

Tax and insurance

Room rent is generally rental income to be reported to both Revenu Québec and the Canada Revenue Agency, with part of the expenses deductible. Hosts should also tell their home insurer that an unrelated occupant is living in the house.

Comparing Quebec's options

The right choice depends mainly on where the older person lives. The table draws on published information for each model and does not cover every private arrangement made directly between families and students.

Who each option suits

A room in a private home suits an independent homeowner who wants to stay put. The residence model targets vocational, college or university students ready to get involved. Two-generation homes concern families, and research suggests women benefit most.

Seven steps to a successful match

For a room in a private home, a careful sequence protects both sides, from checking the room to reviewing the arrangement during the academic year.

1. Check whether the room meets the article 1892 conditions or plan a full residential lease.
2. Contact a matching organisation or the housing office of the CEGEP or university.
3. Meet the candidate, ideally with a support worker present.
4. Write an agreement covering rent, length, shared rooms, visitors and any help.
5. Notify the insurer and, for a tenant host, the landlord.
6. Record an inventory of the room.
7. Review after one month and again at the end of term.

Common mistakes

Several problems recur in Quebec accounts and analyses. Knowing them helps a friendly arrangement avoid ending up before the housing tribunal.

• Assuming every residential-lease protection applies to a room in the owner's home.
• Forgetting to report rental income at both provincial and federal levels.
• Asking a student to provide care that belongs to the health network.
• Building an attached unit without checking the municipal zoning by-law.
• Leaving residence volunteer hours without a defined schedule.

Frequently asked questions about homesharing in Quebec

These answers reflect programmes and documents published up to autumn 2026. Grant amounts and call dates change every year, so applicants should always consult the latest youth secretariat guide before preparing a file.

Can international students take part?

For a private room, nothing prevents it. For funded residence projects, the 2025-2026 guide referred to at least one Quebec student at vocational, college or university level, so international applicants should check the residence's definition first.

When are grant applications accepted?

Dates vary: the 2025-2026 call ran from 15 September to 13 October 2025, and the 2026-2027 call from 6 July to 31 August 2026. Applications go through the government's online platform, and agreements are signed by 31 March.

Is the student an employee?

No. The programme cannot fund wages or a residence's core services such as care, cooking or cleaning. The student remains a housed volunteer, supervised by a member of management who sets tasks and hours.

Is there a province-wide matching platform?

Not yet. The retirees' association called for one in 2023 so that older people living at home could take part without moving. Until then, matching relies on local organisations, campus housing offices and residence initiatives.