Residential Tenant Rights in Ontario: Air Conditioning
Your responsibilities as a landlord.
1.5 min read
Summertime in Canada is what many Canadians spend eight months waiting for. Although short, there is no doubt that the summer months bring with them intense and sometimes unbearable heat. This may pose the question for those who are currently renting: as a landlord, am I responsible for providing air conditioning for my tenants?
The Residential Tenancies Act and the Toronto Heating By-Law outlines that a landlord is responsible for providing heat to a residential property at a minimum of 21 degrees Celsius between September 15 and June 1 of each year. If the weather outside causes the apartment units to be 21 degrees Celsius without heat, property owners and landlords can turn the heat off.
However, air conditioning is typically not included in the terms of the lease. For buildings that provide air conditioning, landlords are obligated to keep the temperature at or below 26 degrees Celsius. This only applies to properties with air conditioning as a part of the lease agreement.
There are several things tenants can do to keep cool during the summer months, including:
Investing in a plugin fan
Keeping the lights off when possible
Create air circulation by opening the windows
Pull the blinds down to reflect sunlight
If air conditioning is necessary, it is vital to review your lease terms with your tenants to determine whether it will be provided throughout the duration of the tenancy. Help your tenants plan to stay safe and cool this summer.
References
City of Toronto. (2020, November 27). Low or no heat/other vital services in rental units. Retrieved May 07, 2022, from https://www.toronto.ca/city-government/public-notices-bylaws/bylaw-enforcement/not-enough-heatother-vital-services/#:~:text=Minimum%20Temperatures,September%2015%20to%20June%201.&text=If%20the%20weather%20outside%20means,the%20heat%20down%20or%20off.
Krovblit, E. (2019, March 21). Is Your Landlord Responsible For Keeping You Cool? [Web log post]. Retrieved May 07, 2022, from https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/ypnexthome/landlord-summer-heatwave_b_11476934.html
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