Property Tax Sale

My rights and obligations after the sale

For information on your rights and obligations we suggest you consult your notary or lawyer. The following questions and answers are provided solely for guidance.

My property was sold

• What happens with the money paid to the city? Do I get part of it?

  When the city receives money for the sale of a property, it forwards this amount to the clerk of the Superior Court (Tel.: 514-393-2000).

  A scheme of collocation is drawn up and the money distributed according to law.

• My house was sold. Can I regain ownership?

  Yes, a former owner can exercise its right of redemption to buy back a property that has been sold. This right may also be exercised by the former owner’s legal representatives or by a third party acting on behalf of the former owner. The buyer cannot contest this right.

  The former owner has one year to exercise his or her redemption right. This deadline runs from the date of the property tax sale.

  To exercise his or her redemption right, the former owner must pay the buyer the amount the latter paid plus 10% interest, at any time during the year that the redemption right is exercised. Since the redemption deed is produced in the form of a notarial act at the owner’s expense, you should first consult a notary about this procedure.

I bought a property

• I am unhappy with my purchase. Can I cancel the sale?

  The property is purchased at the buyer’s risk and peril.

• What is the procedure for obtaining a final deed of sale?

  The buyer must retain the services of a notary of his or her choosing. The notary will then prepare a final deed of sale. The buyer is responsible for assuming all of the costs involved in obtaining a final deed for the property that has been purchased at the tax sale. Any taxes encumbering the property must be paid at the time the deed is prepared.