What Alberta Tenants Should Do If Heat or Water Is Shut Off

Living in Alberta means reliable heat and water are essential—especially during winter months. If your landlord shuts off, or fails to provide, these critical services in your rented home or apartment, it can create a serious health and safety risk. As a tenant, knowing your rights and the proper steps to restore heat or water quickly are important for your well-being and comfort.

Why Heat and Water Must Be Provided

Under Alberta law, landlords are required to provide tenants with basic utilities like heat and water. These services are not just a convenience—without them, your health and safety may be at risk.

• Heat must be sufficient to maintain a minimum temperature, typically 22°C during winter as regulated by local bylaws.
• Water (both hot and cold) must be available at all times for drinking, bathing, and cleaning.

Landlords who cut off these services (or fail to pay utility bills, causing disconnection) may be violating the Residential Tenancies Act (Alberta)¹.

Immediate Steps: What You Should Do

If you discover the heat or water has been shut off in your Alberta rental:

• Confirm the shut-off: Ensure the loss isn’t due to a utility outage in the area or unpaid tenant-controlled bills.
• Contact your landlord immediately: Call, email, or send a written notice about the interruption and request urgent restoration.
• Document everything: Keep records of the date/time, correspondence, photos (such as frozen pipes), and any calls or emails exchanged.
• If there’s no response, or your landlord refuses to act, see the next steps below for tenant remedies.

Legal Protections and Your Rights as a Tenant

The Alberta Residential Tenancies Act requires landlords to maintain vital services. If failure to provide heat or water threatens your health or safety, seek help right away. The relevant tribunal in Alberta is the Residential Tenancy Dispute Resolution Service (RTDRS).²

In addition to legal remedies, missing heat and water often create Health and Safety Issues Every Tenant Should Know When Renting. You have the right to live in a habitable home; landlords cannot retaliate if you exercise this right.

Key Alberta Government Forms: When and How to Use Them

• Tenant Application for Remedy (RTDRS Form)
  When to use: If your landlord is not restoring heat/water promptly.
  How to use: Fill out the Tenant Application for Remedy online or in person. Provide a summary of events, attach documentation, and request an order compelling your landlord to restore services.
  Example: If the landlord won’t fix the furnace, file this form to seek an order from RTDRS to restore heat immediately.
• Public Health Complaint Form (Alberta Health Services)
  When to use: If the lack of heat or water is creating an urgent health risk.
  How to use: Submit a complaint via AHS Environmental Public Health. An inspector may order the landlord to restore services right away.
  Example: No water for several days – file a health complaint to trigger an inspection.

What RTDRS or Public Health Can Order

• Forced restoration of heat or water
• Permission to pay for repairs yourself (and deduct cost from rent, if approved by an order)
• Compensation for loss or extra expenses (e.g., alternative accommodations)
• End your lease without penalty if the home is uninhabitable

How To Apply for Urgent Orders: Step-by-Step

If your landlord is unresponsive, you may apply for an urgent remedy through the RTDRS. The process is designed to be fast for issues threatening safety or essential services.

1. Collect your evidence: Written notices, photos, correspondence, and details of outages.
2. Download and fill out the Tenant Application for Remedy form from the RTDRS site; indicate the urgent nature of your request.
3. Apply in-person or online to RTDRS and pay the application fee (fee waivers available in some cases).
4. Attend your hearing: Bring your records and state your case. The tribunal will issue an order as quickly as possible.

Disruptions to heat or water are considered emergencies. For more on handling urgent repairs, see Emergency Situations and Repairs: Tenant Rights and Responsibilities.

Health and Safety—Your Right to a Habitable Home

You are always entitled to a safe, livable home. Alberta’s Public Health Act gives local inspectors the power to act quickly if your heat or water is shut off, especially in winter.

Related Tenancy Issues in Alberta

Loss of basic services like heat or water often occurs alongside other problems, such as pest infestations or repair delays. If you’re facing several maintenance problems, check out Common Issues Tenants Face and How to Resolve Them. Proper documentation and timely communication help protect your rights throughout the tenancy process.

To learn more about your specific rights as a renter, see Tenant Rights and Landlord Rights in Alberta for a complete overview.

Looking for a new home with dependable utilities? Find rental homes across Canada on Houseme – Canada's best rental listings platform with trusted tools for tenants.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can my landlord legally shut off my heat or water in Alberta?
   No. Landlords cannot cut off these vital services except for repairs or emergencies. Withholding heat or water is a violation of Alberta's tenancy laws.
2. What can I do if my landlord won’t restore heat or water?
   Start with written notice, then file a Tenant Application for Remedy with the RTDRS, or contact Alberta Health Services if urgent. Keep thorough documentation.
3. How fast can I get my heat or water restored?
   Urgent cases are prioritized by RTDRS and public health. Orders are often made within days if there is significant health or safety risk.
4. Can I withhold rent if there are no essential services?
   Do not withhold rent without legal advice or a tribunal order. Instead, seek a legal remedy through RTDRS if your home is uninhabitable.
5. Who pays the utility bills in Alberta rentals?
   This depends on your lease agreement. Check your tenancy contract for details; landlords must ensure utilities are available unless tenant pays the account directly.

Need Help? Resources for Tenants

• Residential Tenancy Dispute Resolution Service (RTDRS) – Quick legal remedies for tenants
• Alberta Health Services – Environmental Public Health Complaints – File a health and safety concern
• For advice and support: Centre for Public Legal Education Alberta (CPLEA)
• Tenants’ rights resource: Tenant Rights and Landlord Rights in Alberta

---

1. Residential Tenancies Act (Alberta) – Government of Alberta
2. Residential Tenancy Dispute Resolution Service (RTDRS)

Categories

Tenant Rights & Responsibilities Rent & Deposits Leases & Agreements Moving In / Out Maintenance & Repairs Evictions Roommates & Shared Housing Discrimination & Accessibility Utilities & Services Affordable Housing & Subsidies Dispute Resolution & LTB Safety & Security Privacy & Entry by Landlord Special Tenancy Situations Tenant Insurance & Liability Post-Eviction Resources Landlord Compliance & Penalties Legal Precedents & Case Summaries Mental Health & Tenancy