New data released by the Public Health Indicator shows that just over 6% of Quebec homes required major repairs in 2021, a figure that has held steady for the past five years. The analysis-which assesses the condition of homes based on issues with plumbing, electrical systems, and structural integrity-provides a key snapshot of housing quality across the province and its potential impact on public health. While the overall rate remains stable, regional disparities reveal a higher need for renovations in areas including Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Côte-Nord, and Montreal.
Just 6.3% of homes in Quebec required major repairs in 2021, a figure that has remained stable since 2016, according to data from the Public Health Indicator. This rate is slightly below the Canadian average of 6.1%. A home is classified as needing major repairs when it has significant issues with plumbing, electrical systems, or structural components like walls, floors, or ceilings.
The proportion of homes needing substantial work has improved over the past quarter-century, declining from 8.2% in 1996. Regionally, in 2021, the Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine area reported the highest percentage of homes needing major repairs, at 8.6%. The Côte-Nord and Montreal regions followed closely behind, both with 8.4% of homes requiring significant renovations.
Homeowners have seen a positive trend, with the percentage of their properties needing major renovations decreasing from 7.9% in 2001 to 5.8% in 2016. Renters also experienced a decline in this metric, moving from 7.7% to 7.2% over the same period.
1 Data for the Nunavik and James Bay Cree territories are not included due to challenges with data availability and reliability. Please consult the “Methodology” section and the “Information on Comparisons” and “Glossary” pages for a fair understanding and interpretation of the data.
2 Occupancy status data is only available for the 2001 and 2016 censuses. More details on occupancy status can be found in the methodological notes.
The stability in Quebec’s housing repair rates suggests a relatively consistent level of housing quality, which is a key indicator of overall economic well-being. The data, released by the Public Health Indicator, provides a snapshot of the condition of homes across the province.
While the overall rate remained steady in 2021, significant regional variations exist. The higher percentages in areas like Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Côte-Nord, and Montreal could reflect factors such as older housing stock or specific economic conditions impacting maintenance and renovation budgets. These regional differences highlight the need for targeted housing support programs.
The decline in the proportion of homes needing major repairs for both homeowners and renters between 2001 and 2016 indicates improvements in housing maintenance and investment. This trend could be attributed to increased awareness of home maintenance, government initiatives promoting renovations, or broader economic improvements allowing for greater investment in property upkeep.
It’s important to note that data for certain regions, specifically Nunavik and the James Bay Cree territories, were excluded from the analysis due to data limitations. Researchers advise consulting the full methodology and accompanying documentation for a comprehensive understanding of the data and its limitations.
