Is your Toronto apartment too hot?

Here’s what your landlord is legally required to do

This article was written by Mark Colley and was published in the Toronto Star on June 19, 2024.

The heat is on in Toronto.

A sweltering heat dome is hanging over the city this week, with Environment Canada issuing a warning for “dangerously hot and humid conditions.” Highs of 30 C to 35 C are expected through the day, with humidex values reaching 40 to 45.

What’s worse, things won’t get much better overnight. Humidex values will stay just below 30, Environment Canada said.

If your apartment feels like an air fryer, you’re not alone. Here’s what the city says your landlord has to do — and what you can do if they don’t.

What does your landlord have to do?

If your apartment has air conditioning, it must be operated between June 2 to Sept. 14 and maintain a temperature of 26 C or below.

It also must be installed so it doesn’t leave “condensation drainage or discharge” on sidewalks, walkways, driveways or other pedestrian or vehicular areas.

What should I do if my landlord isn’t following the law?

If your building has air conditioning but your unit is above 26 C, you can submit a complaint to 311 Toronto. Complaints can be filed online or by calling 3-1-1 (within city limits) or 416-392-2489 (outside city limits).

Bylaw enforcement officers may then investigate the claim. The city says some cases are resolved “through education,” while others require further enforcement, potentially including fines.

Rosalea Thompson, a staff lawyer at the Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario (ACTO), said the response from 311 can vary.

“I’ve heard stories from tenants who get a good response from bylaw and their landlords are responsive once bylaw steps in and reminds them of their obligation to keep a unit habitable,” Thompson said. “Unfortunately, we’ve also heard stories from tenants who don’t get a good response … or it takes a very long time for bylaw to investigate.”

Tenants can also ask their landlord for an accommodation under code-protected grounds like a disability or being elderly, Thompson said.

What if I don’t have air conditioning?

If you don’t have air conditioning, you’re out of luck.

While the city requires all rental units to have a heating system that can maintain a temperature of 21 C, it has no equivalent requirement for air conditioning.

It’s something a coalition of Toronto organizations, including ACTO, are trying to change. City council directed staff last June to study the possibility of introducing a maximum temperature requirement and a report is expected by the end of the year. “We really need adequate protection for tenants who are vulnerable,” Thompson said. “It’s more urgent than ever that the municipalities really step up to create bylaws.”

Other municipalities have already adopted maximums and air conditioning requirements, including Dallas and Montgomery County, Maryland’s most populated district. Hamilton city councillors may soon be voting on a proposed maximum heat bylaw, too.

How can I stay cool?

High temperatures can cause heat exhaustion, which can quickly turn to heat stroke, according to Dr. Samantha Green, a family physician with Unity Health Toronto.

Heat exhaustion can have “nonspecific symptoms,” Green explained, but can include: ■ generally feeling unwell

■ dizziness

■ headache

■ irritability

■ fatigue

■ thirst

■ nausea

■ heavy sweating

■ decreased urination

To stay cool, the Mayo Clinic recommends wearing loose, lightweight clothes, using sunscreen, drinking plenty of fluids and taking regular rest. Green also recommended applying wet towels or ice to the under arms, groin or back of the head. A cool shower also helps.

And while fans can be effective, they’ll only help cool you down in temperatures below 35 C, Green said.

Where can I go to cool down in Toronto?

Toronto is offering a “heat relief network” of around 600 facilities across the city with air conditioning or water facilities. This includes libraries, community centres, malls and swimming pools. The locations are active between May 15 and Sept. 30 and can be found on the City of Toronto website.

Author: Ray Nakano

Ray is a retired, third generation Japanese Canadian born and raised in Hamilton, Ontario. He resides in Toronto where he worked for the Ontario Government for 28 years. Ray was ordained by Thich Nhat Hanh in 2011 and practises in the Plum Village tradition, supporting sanghas in their mindfulness practice. Ray is very concerned about our climate crisis. He has been actively involved with the ClimateFast group (https://climatefast.ca) for the past 5 years. He works to bring awareness of our climate crisis to others and motivate them to take action. He has created the myclimatechange.home.blog website, for tracking climate-related news articles, reports, and organizations. He has created mobilizecanada.ca to focus on what you can do to address the climate crisis. He is always looking for opportunities to reach out to communities, politicians, and governments to communicate about our climate crisis and what we need to do. He says: “Our world is in dire straits. We have to bend the curve on our heat-trapping pollutants in the next few years if we hope to avoid the most serious impacts of human-caused global warming. Doing nothing is not an option. We must do everything we can to create a livable future for our children, our grandchildren, and all future generations.”