Landlord Obligations for Providing Cooling During Heat Emergencies

Extreme heat can create serious health risks for renters, especially older adults, young children, and people with medical conditions. In Ontario, landlords must keep rental properties in a good state of repair and comply with health, safety, housing, and maintenance standards, but the law does not generally require every rental unit to have air conditioning. If cooling equipment or central air is provided, it may need to be maintained and repaired. Tenants should report unsafe temperatures promptly, keep records, and seek urgent help when conditions threaten health. This guide explains Ontario tenant rights, landlord responsibilities, repair options, and practical steps to take during a heat emergency.

What Ontario landlords must do during extreme heat

The Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 requires landlords to maintain rental premises in a good state of repair and fit for habitation.^[1] This duty applies whether a problem is caused by ordinary wear, a failed mechanical system, or another maintenance issue. The landlord must also comply with municipal property standards and other applicable health and safety rules.

Cooling is different from Ontario's minimum heat requirement. Ontario's provincial rules generally require landlords to maintain at least 20°C in most rental units from September 1 to June 15 where the landlord is responsible for heat. There is no equivalent province-wide requirement that every unit be kept below a specific maximum temperature. A lease, municipal bylaw, building standard, or previous landlord practice may create additional obligations.

If air conditioning, fans, window units, or a building cooling system were supplied as part of the rental, the landlord should keep that equipment working and respond to reported failures within a reasonable time. Removing promised cooling, blocking ventilation, or refusing necessary maintenance may raise a repair or interference issue. For broader background, review Obligations of Landlords and Tenants: Rights and Responsibilities Explained.

When a cooling problem may be urgent

A failed air conditioner is not automatically an emergency under Ontario's tenancy law, but the circumstances matter. A dangerous indoor temperature, a vulnerable occupant, a medical risk, or a broken system in a building that relies on central cooling can require faster action. Tenants should call emergency services for symptoms such as confusion, fainting, chest pain, or suspected heat stroke.

• Contact emergency services or a medical professional when someone shows signs of a heat-related illness.
• Report broken cooling equipment or ventilation problems to the landlord or property manager immediately.
• Record indoor temperatures, dates, symptoms, communications, and any damage to belongings.
• Use a safe public cooling location if the rental becomes dangerous, while keeping receipts for reasonable related costs.

How to report and document the problem

Give the landlord clear written notice describing the heat conditions, the affected equipment, who is at risk, and the response you need. Include the date and time, a reasonable deadline for urgent action, and a way to contact you. Follow up in writing after telephone calls. Take photographs of thermostat readings and equipment, but do not alter electrical, gas, or building systems yourself.

Keep copies of messages, work orders, inspection reports, medical documentation that you are permitted to share, receipts, and notes about when the landlord responded. These records can help show the seriousness and duration of the issue. The Emergency Situations and Repairs: Tenant Rights and Responsibilities guide provides related repair-planning information.

What if the landlord does not act?

Ontario tenants can apply to the Landlord and Tenant Board, commonly called the LTB, when a landlord fails to meet maintenance obligations. The Board may consider an application for a rent abatement, an order requiring repairs, reimbursement for reasonable expenses, or other remedies available under the law. The Board does not replace emergency medical or fire services.

The relevant maintenance application is generally Form T6, Tenant Application about Maintenance. Use it when the landlord has not repaired or maintained the rental unit or has not complied with health, safety, housing, or maintenance standards. A tenant might use Form T6 after reporting a failed air-conditioning system several times and retaining copies of the unanswered requests. Forms and filing instructions are available through the official Landlord and Tenant Board forms page.^[3]

The LTB may also be relevant if a landlord substantially interferes with a tenant's reasonable enjoyment or retaliates after a complaint. The correct application depends on the facts, so read the instructions carefully and keep proof of service and deadlines. For general tenant health concerns, see Health and Safety Issues Every Tenant Should Know When Renting.

Ways to stay safer while waiting for repairs

• Check on household members regularly and monitor conditions during the hottest hours.
• Close blinds during direct sunlight and use safe airflow methods that do not create electrical hazards.
• Contact a local cooling centre, public health unit, or community assistance service if the unit is unsafe.
• Save receipts and maintain a dated log of temporary accommodation or transportation costs.

Tenants can also Find rental homes across Canada on Houseme if they are considering a future move, but moving out does not automatically end a lease or remove possible claims about past maintenance failures.

Frequently Asked Questions

Must an Ontario landlord install air conditioning during a heat emergency?

Usually not, because Ontario does not generally impose a province-wide maximum indoor temperature or require air conditioning in every rental unit, although a lease, bylaw, building standard, or supplied system may create additional duties.

What should I do if my rental's air conditioner stops working?

Notify the landlord promptly in writing, describe the health and safety concerns, document the conditions, and request urgent repair while using safe cooling options.

Can I withhold rent because my unit is too hot?

No, tenants should not withhold rent without an agreement or an order because doing so can lead to an arrears claim or eviction process.

Which Ontario form can I use for an unresolved maintenance problem?

Form T6, Tenant Application about Maintenance, is generally used to ask the Landlord and Tenant Board for remedies when a landlord fails to maintain the rental unit.

How-To: Respond to a Cooling Emergency

1. Seek medical or emergency assistance if anyone has serious heat-related symptoms.
2. Send the landlord a written notice describing the temperature, failed equipment, health risks, and requested repair.
3. Collect temperature readings, photographs, communications, receipts, and medical or other supporting records.
4. Allow reasonable access for inspection and repair while documenting appointments and missed visits.
5. Consider Form T6 with the Landlord and Tenant Board if the maintenance problem remains unresolved.

Help and Support / Resources

• Landlord and Tenant Board for Ontario tenancy applications, hearings, and information.
• Official Landlord and Tenant Board forms, including Form T6.
• Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 for the governing provincial legislation.
• Ontario health care and community support information for help finding appropriate health services.

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1. [1] Residential Tenancies Act, 2006
2. [2] Landlord and Tenant Board
3. [3] Landlord and Tenant Board forms, including Form T6