Montreal mayoral candidate took in illegal security deposit from tenant renting her home

Montreal mayoral candidate took in illegal security deposit from tenant renting her home

The listing for a property owned by Soraya Martinez Ferrada, a candidate to become Montreal's next mayor, included a security deposit and a cleaning fee. Both stipulations violate Quebec law.

The chief of Ensemble Montréal requested a deposit of $2850 to rent a dwelling in 2023, an illegal practice.

The Montreal City Hall candidate, Soraya Martinez Ferrada, claims to have made a "good faith mistake" by asking a tenant for a security deposit in 2023. However, she claims to take full responsibility for the situation and assures that she has repaid the amount.

The aspiring mayor of Montreal demanded a security deposit of $2,850 to his future tenants, a completely illegal practice.

Ensemble chief charged illegal deposits

TVA’s Enquête group discovered that Soraya Martinez Ferrada, head of Ensemble and aspiring mayor, has been charging tenants illegal deposits as a landlord. The idea that this was a requirement that used to be usual and had innocently been imposed is so bogus. Rental deposits didn’t become illegal last year. They’ve been illegal for decades in Quebec.