Renovations in Quebec: 20% of Contractors Recommended by AI Are Not Reliable

A study conducted by Reno Quotes reveals that at least one in five contractors recommended by artificial intelligence operates without a valid license in Quebec, a mistake that could prove costly for homeowners, especially as households invest heavily in residential renovations.

Montreal, April 13, 2026 As more Quebecers turn to ChatGPT to quickly and easily find renovation contractors, a study conducted by Reno Quotes, a leading platform that has connected over 939,983 homeowners with certified contractors across Quebec, reveals a concerning reality: in 81% of the searches performed, at least one contractor recommended by ChatGPT was found to be invalid.

Major Gaps in Contractor Recommendations

To conduct this study, Reno Quotes analyzed 152 Quebec contractors across 16 targeted search queries submitted to ChatGPT, combining different cities and trades (for example: “10 roofing contractors in Gatineau”). The results were then compared with the public registry of the Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ), where a license is mandatory for any contractor performing construction work in Quebec.

Beyond being a legal requirement, an RBQ license certifies a contractor’s qualifications and requires them to maintain a license bond of up to $40,000, which serves as a concrete financial safety net for homeowners in the event of disputes, poor workmanship, or project abandonment.

Out of the 152 results analyzed, 31 contractors showed irregularities:

• 25 had no valid RBQ license, including 9 cases where the company does not legally exist in Quebec, including one bankrupt entity

• 6 businesses did not actually offer renovation services

This represents an irregularity rate of 20.4%.

Some searches produced particularly concerning results:

• Flooring in Montreal: 5 invalid results out of 10 (50% failure rate)

• Roofing in Gatineau: 3 invalid results out of 10 (30% failure rate)

• Painting in Montreal: 2 invalid results out of 10, including one with an expired RBQ license

• Roofing in Montreal and another case: the same contractor was recommended twice under different names

• One contractor displayed a third party’s license on its website without holding one itself

• In one case, ChatGPT flagged a company as closed, even though it appears to still be operating

"It’s almost like flipping a coin. In some searches submitted to ChatGPT, a homeowner requesting three quotes could have up to a one-in-two chance that at least one of the proposed contractors does not have a valid license. This could potentially lead to financial and legal consequences for the client. AI is a powerful tool, but it remains fallible and can recommend a contractor whose license has been expired for months, without the user realizing it."

A Pivotal Year for Residential Renovation in Quebec

This study comes at a time of strong growth in the renovation sector. With interest rates still high, making homeownership increasingly inaccessible for many households, Quebecers are turning in large numbers toward major renovation projects to improve and increase the value of their current homes.

Reno Quotes data for 2025 and 2026 confirms this trend:

• January to March 2025 vs. 2026: Over 8.3% growth in projects driven by structural requests (home additions, framing, foundations, etc.)

• January to March 2025 vs. 2026: 4.7% growth in the “building envelope” category (roofing, siding, doors and windows, etc.)

• January to March 2025 vs. 2026: -3.10% decrease in finishing projects

• 2025: 27.5% increase in residential renovation spending in Quebec, according to Statistics Canada

• 2026: Forecasted 8% increase in residential renovation spending in Quebec, according to the Association des professionnels de la construction et de l’habitation du Québec (APCHQ)

Meanwhile, smaller cosmetic projects are clearly declining. The takeaway is that households are spending more on renovations, but investing more strategically.

More Contractors Available, But Also More Risk

The era of contractor shortages is over. The job vacancy rate in construction has dropped to 2.8% in Quebec, a level not seen since 2018. Project pipelines are easing, and homeowners now have more time to compare quotes.

However, this abundance comes with a downside. A greater number of contractors in the market also increases the risk of dealing with non-compliant operators.

Key Indicators to Verify Reliability

The good news is that tools to protect yourself exist and are accessible to everyone. The first step is to validate the contractor’s RBQ license on the official public registry and ensure the license classification matches the scope of work, since not all certified contractors are qualified for every type of project.

Customer reviews also remain one of the best indicators of actual work quality. Requesting multiple detailed quotes allows homeowners to compare not only pricing but also what is truly included.

For those who prefer to delegate this process, platforms like Reno Quotes perform these checks in advance, including licenses, specialties, legal background, and customer reviews, before any contractor is connected with a homeowner. The platform also features over 20,690 verified customer reviews from real individuals, allowing homeowners to rely on an honest and representative picture of each contractor’s work.

"AI can be a useful starting point, but when it comes to trusting someone with your home, there is no room for error, especially when significant investments are involved. Our role is to ensure that the trust between a homeowner and their contractor is not only earned, but also verified."

About Reno Quotes

Reno Quotes is Quebec’s leading platform for connecting homeowners with certified contractors. Since its founding, the company has supported thousands of households in their residential renovation projects by focusing on transparency, rigor, and trust.

Learn more at : www.renoquotes.com