Not enough heat in your Toronto rental? The 21°C rule, the dates, and how to get it fixed

Stop 01The rule: 21°C, October 1 to May 15

The City’s page is short and specific: “All landlords are responsible for providing heat to a minimum air temperature of 21 degrees Celsius from October 1 to May 15.”

Three things about that sentence are worth noticing:

• It is a temperature, not a thermostat setting. The rule is about the air temperature in the unit.
• It applies all day. There is no separate night-time number on the City’s page.
• Check the dates. If you have seen September 15 to June 1 quoted somewhere, go by the City’s current page, which uses October 1 to May 15.

The City also notes that its Heating Bylaw is being renamed the Indoor Temperature Standards Bylaw from June 1, 2026, so you may see either name.

Stop 02The “shoulder season”

Autumn and spring in Toronto can swing from cold to warm in a day. The City addresses this directly. From September 15 to October 15, and from May 1 to June 1, warm weather can push indoor temperatures above 21°C. In the City’s words: “If the weather outside means that the building is 21 degrees Celsius without heat, property owners and landlords can turn the heat down or off.”

So a landlord who has not switched the heat on during a warm week in early October is not necessarily breaking the rule. What matters is whether your unit is at least 21°C.

Stop 03Hot water counts too

The same page covers hot water. Property owners must provide it, and the City says the temperature at the fixtures “must be between 45 to 49 degrees Celsius.”

Stop 04What landlords must do

The City lists the landlord’s responsibilities when a tenant reports a heat problem:

• treat a report of inadequate or no heat as urgent and respond within 24 hours;
• keep copies of all responses and track the requests as part of their records;
• make sure the heating and ventilation systems are maintained and regularly serviced.

And one line that settles a common argument: “Under no circumstance can you withhold the supply of any vital service, including heat. This applies even if the tenant’s rent is overdue, or the tenant has damaged the property.”

Stop 05If your unit is cold: four steps

1. Measure it. Buy an inexpensive room thermometer and put it in the middle of the room, away from windows, doors and heaters. Write down the temperature, the date and the time, two or three times a day for a few days. A photo of the thermometer with your phone’s timestamp is a simple record.

2. Tell your landlord or property manager, in writing. The City’s advice is to speak to your landlord or property manager first. Do it by email or text so there is a record, and include your readings. Keep it factual: “My unit measured 18°C at 7 a.m. and 19°C at 9 p.m. on October 12 and 13.”

3. Wait 24 hours. The City says that if the issue “is not resolved within 24 hours, you can contact 311 to have the City investigate.” That matches the landlord’s 24-hour response duty above.

4. Contact 311. You can call 311 or submit a service request online. The City says Bylaw Enforcement Officers investigate complaints and may educate or take enforcement action, case by case.

If you rent a condominium unit, the City says the landlord is responsible for making sure the heat rules are followed. Talk to your landlord first, then 311.

Stop 06What enforcement looks like

The City’s page lists a set fine of $500 for failing to maintain the 21°C minimum in a rented unit, and higher maximum fines when a matter goes further. The City is clear that the goal is to get the heat back on, and that some cases are resolved through education alone. For a tenant, the practical point is that the rule is enforceable, and your written records are what make it so.

Stop 07In the meantime: space heaters, safely

Many people bridge a cold spell with a portable heater. Toronto’s winter safety page gives the rules:

• Keep heaters at least one metre (three feet) away from anything that can burn, including paper, drapes, loose clothes, furniture, bedding and wallpaper.
• Never put clothes on a heater to dry.
• Avoid leaving heaters on when you leave home or go to bed.
• Keep children well away from heaters.
• Only use a heater that carries a recognized certification label; the City’s page names the specific mark to look for.

A space heater is a stopgap, not a fix. Keep reporting until the unit itself is warm.

Stop 08Two more things renters should know this fall

Ontario’s renting page lists the 2027 rent increase guideline at 1.9 per cent. For most tenants, rent cannot go up by more than the guideline each year, though there are exceptions explained on the province’s page.

If a disagreement with a landlord goes beyond a city bylaw, the province points tenants to the Landlord and Tenant Board, which it describes as the tribunal that resolves residential tenancy disputes in Ontario. Its phone line is 1-888-332-3234, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Stop 09The short version

1. 01From October 1 to May 15, your rental must reach at least 21°C.
2. 02Hot water should be 45 to 49°C.
3. 03Measure, write it down, and tell your landlord in writing.
4. 04No fix in 24 hours? Contact 311.
5. 05Use any space heater with a one-metre clearance, and not while you sleep or are out.

I keep short, practical city guides like this on my own site, and longer pieces on ZELR. This is general information, not legal advice; the City’s and the province’s pages below are the authority.