No Heat in a Canadian Rental? Minimum Temperature Rules & What Tenants Can Do

Quick answer: there is no single Canada-wide minimum rental temperature. Heating standards come from provincial tenancy/health rules and municipal bylaws. Ontario’s provincial maintenance standards use 20°C where those standards apply, Toronto requires 21°C during its heating season, Alberta’s minimum housing standard uses 22°C, British Columbia requires landlords to maintain heating but local bylaws set many numeric standards, and Québec guidance says about 21°C is generally considered an adequate winter temperature in normal conditions.

Last verified: 1 October 2026. Check the rule for your exact province and municipality before relying on a temperature number.

First: no heat is not just a comfort issue

In a Canadian winter, a failed heating system can become an urgent health and property problem. Frozen pipes, unsafe indoor temperatures and carbon-monoxide risks from improper backup heating can escalate quickly. Notify the landlord or property manager as soon as you discover that the primary heat is not working.

Ontario: 20°C provincial standard, but cities can set their own rules

Ontario’s provincial maintenance standards require heating capable of maintaining at least 20°C in habitable areas where those provincial standards apply. Municipal property-standard bylaws can impose their own requirements.

For example, Toronto requires at least 21°C from October 1 to May 15. Toronto tells tenants to contact the landlord/property manager first and, if a low/no-heat problem is not resolved within 24 hours, contact 311 for investigation.

British Columbia: heating must work, but check your local bylaw for the number

B.C.’s Residential Tenancy Branch says landlords are responsible for major heating repairs and must maintain basic features such as heating so the rental remains safe and healthy. The province also notes that local governments commonly set maintenance standards for heat, so the exact minimum temperature can vary by municipality.

A failure of the primary heating system can qualify as an emergency repair under B.C. tenancy guidance. Tenants should use the landlord’s emergency contact, document their attempts to reach the landlord and follow the prescribed emergency-repair process rather than simply arranging expensive work without notice.

Alberta: 22°C standard

Alberta’s Minimum Housing and Health Standards require heating facilities to be capable of safely heating habitable rooms, bathrooms and toilet rooms to at least 22°C (71°F). Where someone other than the occupant controls the supplied heat, it should be maintained at that temperature.

The standards allow an exception during temperatures colder than the area’s winter design temperature: an Executive Officer may permit an indoor temperature below 22°C but above 16°C. Alberta also says cooking appliances and portable space heaters cannot be the primary required heat source.

Québec: about 21°C is the recognised winter benchmark

Québec’s Tribunal administratif du logement says the law and most municipal bylaws do not specify one exact temperature, but under normal winter conditions an indoor minimum of about 21°C is generally recognised as adequate.

If heating is under the landlord’s control, the landlord must provide an adequate temperature regardless of the time of year. There is no universal legal date on which the heating is allowed to be switched on or off; the actual indoor temperature is what matters.

How to document a no-heat problem

1. Take temperature readings in several rooms.
2. Write down the date and time of each reading.
3. Photograph the thermostat/thermometer reading.
4. Save outdoor temperature/weather information if useful.
5. Notify the landlord in writing and keep the message.
6. Record every call, reply, repair appointment and missed appointment.
7. Take photos of any related issue such as frozen pipes or condensation.

Québec’s TAL suggests taking readings at fixed times over several days, generally in the centre of the room about one metre above the floor, if the problem persists and evidence may be needed.

What should you ask the landlord to do?

• send an emergency heating technician;
• confirm when the repair will occur;
• provide safe temporary heating if the repair cannot be completed quickly;
• explain any building-wide outage;
• confirm whether another unit/temporary accommodation is available if conditions become unsafe.

Do not create a second safety problem

Do not use an oven, barbecue or other unapproved combustion appliance to heat your home. Portable electric heaters can also create fire risks if used improperly. Follow manufacturer clearances, avoid overloaded extension cords and keep heaters away from bedding, curtains and children.

What if the landlord does nothing?

Escalation depends on location. It may include municipal property-standards/bylaw enforcement, the provincial tenancy tribunal or branch, or public-health/housing enforcement. B.C. tenants can seek Residential Tenancy Branch dispute resolution; Québec tenants can use the TAL; Ontario tenants may have municipal enforcement and Landlord and Tenant Board remedies depending on the case.

Do not simply stop paying rent because the heat is broken. Rent withholding rules differ and usually require a legal process or specific authority.

Province comparison

Related guides: who clears snow at a Canadian rental, tenant insurance in Canada and the Canada hub.

Official sources

• Ontario: Maintenance Standards Regulation
• City of Toronto: heat and vital services
• British Columbia: repairs and maintenance
• Alberta: Minimum Housing and Health Standards
• Québec TAL: heating problems