> At a Glance
>
> – A Quebec apartment froze solid after the tenant left heat off and pipes burst
> – Ice coated every surface, creating surreal icicles from cabinets and ceilings
> – Why it matters: Extreme winter damage can total a property and hike insurance costs for neighbors
A Trois-Rivières rental unit became a real-life ice palace when sub-zero temperatures met an empty, unheated apartment last week.
Frozen-Over Home
Video aired by CTV News on Jan. 5 shows the apartment encased in ice. The washer, dryer, and even clothes left on top are locked under a thick sheet. Icicles hang like glass stalactites from cabinet undersides and ceiling beams, while a jagged ice sculpture rises from floor to ceiling.
Jacques Nault of Logispro Mauricie, which manages the triplex, says the damage is unprecedented:
> “There is water in the ceilings, in the walls, everywhere. Mold will grow. We are going to strip, dry and rebuild according to what is covered by insurance.”
Aftermath and Eviction
- The unit sits in a triplex, but neighboring apartments escaped harm
- Crews discovered the ice while checking an unrelated issue next door
- The unnamed tenant had already moved out months earlier and stopped paying rent
- Management officially evicted the renter on Jan. 5
Trois-Rivières averages a 1 °F low and 19 °F high in January, per Weather Atlas.
Key Takeaways
- Turning heat off in winter can burst pipes and destroy interiors
- Property managers face lengthy teardown and mold prevention
- Insurance coverage will determine rebuild scope
The scene underscores how quickly Quebec’s brutal cold can transform an empty apartment into a glittering-but costly-ice showcase.
