Ontario tenants can now install air conditioners
Starting July 1, renters can add window or portable AC units if landlords don't supply cooling—part of broader tenant protections.
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Ontario tenants gained a significant protection against extreme heat starting Wednesday, July 1: the explicit right to install window or portable air conditioners in rental units where landlords haven't provided cooling.
The new rule is part of an update to the Residential Tenancies Act included in the Helping Homebuyers, Protecting Tenants Act. Tenants must notify landlords in writing before installation and provide information about the unit's energy efficiency. The installation must be done safely, comply with municipal and building codes, and cannot damage the rental property. Landlords are allowed to inspect the unit to ensure it meets these requirements.
If the landlord pays for electricity under the lease, they may increase rent to cover the added costs from the air conditioner—but only to recover their actual increased expenses or a reasonable estimate provided by the tenant. Seasonal variations are permitted; rent can increase during months when the AC is used and decrease when it's not. The increase cannot apply if the lease already stipulated free AC installation.
There are limits: installation must comply with local building regulations, and landlords may prohibit installation under prescribed circumstances outlined in the legislation. The timing is critical: Toronto faces a brutal heat wave this week, with temperatures forecast to feel like 40 C or higher.
