A historically working-class neighborhood in east Montreal, Mercier-Hochelaga-Maisonneuve offers a mix of century-old shoebox houses in Hochelaga and post-war bungalows in Mercier-Est. Clay soil near the river and an aging housing stock demand a rigorous inspection.
Mercier-Hochelaga-Maisonneuve is a borough with two faces. Hochelaga-Maisonneuve retains early 20th-century working-class heritage — shoebox houses, multiplexes and row houses — while Mercier-Est offers a landscape of 1960s-1970s bungalows and split-levels. This duality creates very different inspection challenges depending on the area.
Mercier-Hochelaga-Maisonneuve is located in the eastern part of the island of Montreal, near the St. Lawrence River. The soil is dominated by Champlain Sea marine clay, with a high water table in areas closest to the waterway. These geological conditions create a particularly demanding environment for foundations.
Inspections in this borough reveal varied issues depending on whether you are in the historic Hochelaga area or in the post-war suburbs of Mercier-Est.
We inspect buildings throughout the entire borough, including:
Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, Mercier-Est, Mercier-Ouest, Longue-Pointe — MHM combines century-old shoebox houses, post-war bungalows, and converted industrial buildings. Each typology hides its own risks.
Mercier-Hochelaga-Maisonneuve has emerged as one of the most active areas in east Montreal. Buyers find: shoebox houses and brick multiplexes from the 1900-1940 era in Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, 1960s-1970s bungalows and split-levels in Mercier-Est, duplexes and triplexes in Mercier-Ouest near Maisonneuve Park, and industrial conversions to condos along rue Notre-Dame Est and near Longue-Pointe's former industrial land. Each typology has its own risks.
Our pre-purchase inspection in MHM covers more than 400 points: foundation, structure, roof, electrical, plumbing, ventilation, insulation, windows, cladding and lot. We pay particular attention to aluminum wiring frequent in the 1965-1976 stock, attic vermiculite, stone foundations of shoebox houses, the high-water-table clay soil in Hochelaga, and the variable quality of renovations in the gentrifying district. Report delivered within 24h*.
Single-family homes in MHM split into two worlds. In the south (Hochelaga-Maisonneuve), shoebox houses from 1900-1940 dominate: stone or unreinforced concrete foundations, old wood framing, flat parapet roofs, galvanized plumbing and cast-iron drains, old electrical panels, minimal wall insulation. In the northeast (Mercier-Est), 1960s-1970s bungalows and split-levels prevail: concrete-block foundations, Federal Pioneer 100-amp panels, frequent aluminum wiring, vermiculite in many attics, end-of-life clay-tile weeping tile.
A home inspection in MHM takes 3 to 4 hours on site and includes a complete walk-through of every accessible level, from basement to attic, plus the exterior. Detailed written report within 24h*.
MHM has seen a condo boom over the past 10 years, particularly in Hochelaga-Maisonneuve (former-factory conversions to lofts, new builds along rue Ontario and Sainte-Catherine Est, the Maisonneuve Market area) and along rue Notre-Dame Est. Recent buildings show the typical defects of serial fast-track construction: balcony slab shrinkage cracking, window seal failure, poorly tuned shared ventilation, acoustic transmission. Industrial-to-loft conversions bring their own challenges — original commercial envelope, insufficient ventilation, shared mechanicals.
Our condo inspection in MHM covers the unit interior (kitchen, bathrooms, windows, panel, plumbing, ventilation) and the visible common areas. We also recommend reviewing the contingency fund study and the syndicate's minutes. Read what a condo inspection can and cannot reveal.
MHM has a particularly dense stock of brick duplexes, triplexes and apartment buildings, primarily in Hochelaga-Maisonneuve and parts of Mercier-Ouest. These buildings typically date from 1900-1940 and have accumulated a century of partial renovations: mixed plumbing (cast iron + copper + ABS, sometimes residual lead), patchwork electrical (residual knob-and-tube, fuse panels replaced), eroded masonry and rusted steel lintels, multi-layer parapet roofs, wrought-iron exterior staircases. Buildings with 5+ units fall into the commercial multi-unit category.
A plex and multi-unit inspection in MHM examines every accessible unit, common areas, structure, roof, all mechanical systems, foundation and exterior. For income properties, we also flag insurability concerns and major upcoming capital expenses. Custom quote within 24h.
MHM concentrates significant commercial and industrial activity: rue Ontario, Sainte-Catherine Est, Hochelaga, the Longue-Pointe industrial sectors and the Port of Montreal, the Notre-Dame Est corridor. Commercial properties often involve requalified heritage buildings (former factories, warehouses), flat membrane roofs, rooftop HVAC units, and three-phase electrical service.
A commercial inspection in MHM covers the structure, envelope, roof, electrical service, mechanical systems (HVAC, plumbing, sprinklers if applicable), accessibility, code-compliance flags, parking and lot. For converted industrial buildings, we pay particular attention to use history and structural modifications. Custom quote.
Available 7 days a week. Report within 24h*. Expertise in shoebox houses and post-war bungalows.