Schedule 6 of the RPA lease: decoding personal and non-personal services

Last updated: July 2026

When you sign a lease at a certified seniors' private residence (RPA) in Quebec, one document deserves your full attention before you put pen to paper: Schedule 6. This mandatory schedule, attached to the standard lease form issued by the Tribunal administratif du logement (TAL), lists every service the residence offers, identifies whether each is personal or non-personal in nature, and sets out the price. Reading Schedule 6 carefully — and knowing what each section actually means — can protect you from unexpected charges and give you a solid footing if you ever need to assert your rights.

What is Schedule 6 of an RPA lease?

Every certified RPA in Quebec is required to use the standard residential lease form issued by the TAL. Schedule 6 is the attachment specifically designed for seniors' residences. It serves as the official list of all services the residence commits to providing, broken down as follows:

• whether each service is included in the base rent or available as an option;
• the monthly price (or per-unit price, depending on the service);
• whether the service is classified as "personal" (specific to individual needs) or "non-personal" (available to all residents).

Schedule 6 has full contractual weight: once signed, it is part of your lease. If a service is listed as included, the residence is legally bound to provide it. If you use an optional service, you will be billed at the rate shown. If a residence ever attempts to charge for a service not listed in Schedule 6, you are entitled to refuse. For guidance on reading the full lease, see our page on reading and verifying your RPA lease clause by clause.

When in doubt about any clause or rate, consult the TAL website (tal.gouv.qc.ca), Éducaloi (educaloi.qc.ca), or a CAAP (Comité d'aide et d'accompagnement des aînés et de leurs proches), which offers free guidance to seniors navigating lease-related questions.

Personal services vs. non-personal services: why the distinction matters

The division of services into "personal" and "non-personal" categories is not merely administrative. It affects how your monthly bill is structured, how future increases are calculated, and what recourse you have if something changes.

Non-personal services

Non-personal services are collective amenities available to all residents regardless of individual health status. They typically include:

• meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the common dining room);
• group activities and entertainment programs;
• security and emergency monitoring (call system, 24/7 on-call staff);
• housekeeping of common areas;
• access to shared facilities (lounge, library, fitness room);
• organized group transportation.

These services are generally bundled into the base rent and are the same for every resident in a given unit type. They form the "floor" of what you receive for your monthly fee.

Personal services

Personal services are individualized care and assistance tailored to each resident's specific needs. They are billed on top of the base rent, and their cost varies with frequency and intensity. Common examples include:

• bathing and personal hygiene assistance;
• help dressing or getting in and out of bed;
• medication dispensing and management;
• periodic or regular nursing care;
• cognitive supervision (accompaniment for residents with memory loss);
• on-site physiotherapy or occupational therapy;
• individual medical transportation.

These services are typically priced per hour, per visit, or as a monthly package. They can increase substantially if your needs evolve over time. To plan ahead, review our breakdown of additional care costs in a senior residence.

How to read Schedule 6 line by line

Schedule 6 is presented as a table. Here is a practical approach to working through it:

1. "Service" column: Read each description carefully. "Bathing assistance" and "full bath" can mean very different things in practice. If a description is vague, ask management for clarification in writing before signing.
2. "Included / Optional" column: An included service is part of your base rent. An optional service will be billed separately based on consumption or assessed need. Understand this distinction before you sign.
3. "Price" column: The rate must be stated clearly — per month, per visit, per hour, etc. A blank or vague price is a warning sign. Request a written clarification before proceeding.
4. Services not listed: Any service that does not appear in Schedule 6 cannot be unilaterally billed to you later. If a residence offers a service that is not yet listed, ask to have it added by signed addendum before you move in.

Cross-check Schedule 6 against your assessed autonomy level (category 1 through 4) to make sure the services listed correspond to your actual needs — neither understating them (which could leave you underserviced) nor overstating them (which inflates costs unnecessarily). For a full picture of your legal protections as a resident, see our guide on rights of RPA residents in Quebec.

What can change during the lease

Once you have signed, the services and rates in Schedule 6 cannot be changed unilaterally by the residence during the lease year. However, changes are possible under specific conditions:

• At lease renewal: The residence may propose modifications to services or rates, provided it gives you written notice within the legally required notice period (typically three to six months before the renewal date). You then have the right to accept, negotiate, or refuse the proposed changes.
• By mutual addendum: If your needs change and you want to add or remove a personal service during the lease year, a written addendum signed by both parties can amend Schedule 6. This must be a voluntary agreement — it cannot be imposed on you.
• Care escalation: If your health requires additional personal services, the residence may add them to Schedule 6 by mutual agreement and adjust your bill accordingly. Ask in advance about applicable rate scales so there are no surprises.

For more on rent increase rules, see our page on rent increases in an RPA: your rights.

Making sure the services are actually delivered

Signing Schedule 6 is the beginning, not the end, of the process. Here is how to verify that what is committed to on paper is delivered in practice:

• Keep a log: Note dates and times for personal services received (bathing assistance, medication rounds, etc.). In any dispute, this record becomes valuable evidence.
• Review monthly invoices: Compare each charge against the signed Schedule 6. Services not listed there, or quantities that seem excessive, are worth questioning.
• Put concerns in writing: If you notice a discrepancy, raise it by email or letter with management, so you have a written trail of the issue and any response.
• Available recourse: If the residence does not honour its commitments, a CAAP can provide free accompaniment, or you can file an application with the TAL. For complex situations, consulting a notaire or avocat is also an option.

Frequently asked questions

Can I negotiate the prices listed in Schedule 6 before signing?

In principle, yes. Nothing prevents you from discussing terms before signing. Larger residences tend to have limited flexibility on personal-service rates, but some may offer a trial period, a bundled discount, or a temporary inclusion. Always compare Schedule 6 documents from several residences side by side, and consider contacting Éducaloi or a CAAP to verify that any proposed clauses comply with Quebec law.

Can a residence raise the price of a personal service mid-lease?

No — not without your written agreement. The rates listed in Schedule 6 are part of your lease. A mid-lease change requires a signed addendum from both parties, or a proper renewal-time notice following the required notice period. If a residence tries to impose a rate increase without going through this process, you can contest it. Contact the TAL or a CAAP if the residence does not back down.

What should I do if a listed service is not being delivered?

Start by raising the issue in writing with management — citing the exact service description in Schedule 6 — and keep a copy. If the problem persists, a CAAP can accompany you through the process at no cost. As a last resort, the TAL is the competent body to adjudicate disputes over lease non-performance. Keep your signed lease and Schedule 6 in a safe place throughout your stay.

Does Schedule 6 cover services provided by the CLSC or the public health network?

No. Services delivered by a CLSC or any public-sector provider (home nursing through a CISSS/CIUSSS, publicly funded occupational therapy, etc.) are not part of Schedule 6. They are funded and managed by Quebec's public health system, not by the residence. Schedule 6 covers only what the RPA itself provides and bills. The two systems are complementary: public services often reduce what you need to purchase privately, and a CLSC referral can sometimes be arranged through the residence's social worker.