Is it legal for a landlord in Quebec to ask for a deposit prior to a?
No. Qubecs law does not allow any form of deposits or advance on the rent. Rent is due on the 1st of each month, for each month of the lease. You cant be asked to pay the first (or last) month upfront. You cant be asked to pay a deposit. You cant be asked to pay at once several month. That being said, many landlords will ask nonetheless, hoping the prospective tenants dont know the law. Its especially true with immigrants. Since there is an appartement shortage in Montreal, even when the prospective tenant knows its illegal, many are willing to accept it as it is the "easy" way to get a lease; protesting at the Rgie du Logement (the court tasked with the application of leasing law) is a lengthy process. Actually, because of the shortage, some prospective tenants will even sometimes volunteer to pay a month upfront or something, in order to secure the lease on a flat they really want. (They hope it will sway the landlord their way, instead of someone else.)