# No heat in a Toronto rental: the 21°C heating rule

> Toronto landlords must keep rental units heated to 21°C from October 1 to May 15. What tenants do first, when to call 311, and what landlords need ready.

- Canonical HTML: https://www.jackmanmechanical.com/guides/no-heat-rental-toronto/
- Section: Home > Guides > No heat in a Toronto rental
- Business: Jackman Mechanical Ltd., Toronto, ON, Canada (serves Toronto, North York, Mississauga, Markham, Ajax)
- Phone: (416) 888-1371 | Text: (289) 639-2754 | Email: jackmanmechanicallimited@gmail.com
- Page updated: 2026-10-20

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Guide

A Toronto by-law requires landlords to keep rental units at a minimum of 21°C from October 1 to May 15 every year. A tenant with no heat speaks to the landlord or property manager first; landlords must respond to an urgent vital service request within 24 hours. If it is not fixed, the tenant calls 311. A guide from Jackman Mechanical Ltd., Toronto.

## How warm must a Toronto rental be?

**Toronto's indoor temperature rules for rental units**

| When | The rule | Applies |
| --- | --- | --- |
| October 1 to May 15 | At least 21°C | When heating is provided at the property owner's expense |
| June 1 to September 30 | No more than 26°C | Only where the landlord provides air conditioning |

Source: [City of Toronto, indoor temperatures in apartment units](https://www.toronto.ca/community-people/housing-shelter/rental-housing-rights-information/housing-property-standards/indoor-temperatures-in-apartment-units/). The heating by-law is being renamed the Indoor Temperature Standards By-law on June 1, 2026. The older window of September 15 to June 1 that still circulates online is out of date.

The City also says that when the weather alone keeps a building at 21°C, owners can turn the heat down or off, and that property owners are not required to install air conditioning where none exists.

## What should a tenant do first?

1. Speak to your landlord or property manager and submit a service request.
2. Your landlord must respond to an urgent request, such as no heat, within 24 hours, and to a non-urgent request within seven days.
3. If it is not resolved in a timely manner, report it to the City by calling 311 or online. A by-law officer may investigate.

All three steps are the City's [(City of Toronto)](https://www.toronto.ca/community-people/housing-shelter/rental-housing-rights-information/housing-property-standards/indoor-temperatures-in-apartment-units/). A tenant does not normally hire a heating contractor for the landlord's equipment; the landlord does.

## What should a landlord have ready before October 1?

The 24 hour clock starts when the tenant asks. Things that shorten a no-heat call:

- A contractor's number saved before the first cold night, and the after-hours line: Jackman Mechanical's is [(416) 888-1371](tel:+14168881371), 24/7.
- A photo of the label on each furnace or boiler, so the right parts can be identified from the first call.
- Access sorted: a lockbox, a superintendent, or a tenant who has agreed to let the technician in.
- The yearly inspection done. The Government of Ontario asks owners to have fuel-burning appliances, chimneys and vents cleaned and inspected by professionals every year before cold weather sets in [(Government of Ontario)](https://www.ontario.ca/page/carbon-monoxide-safety).
- Carbon monoxide alarms tested: in rental suites, Ontario makes the landlord responsible for installing, maintaining and testing them, as the [alarm guide](https://www.jackmanmechanical.com/guides/carbon-monoxide-alarms-ontario/) explains.

## Who fixes the heat?

For a landlord or a property manager, Jackman Mechanical troubleshoots, repairs and maintains [furnaces](https://www.jackmanmechanical.com/residential/furnaces/), [boilers](https://www.jackmanmechanical.com/residential/boilers/) and [building heating plants](https://www.jackmanmechanical.com/commercial/heating/), and works for [property managers](https://www.jackmanmechanical.com/commercial/property-managers/) across several buildings. Send a [no heat request](https://www.jackmanmechanical.com/request/?problem=no_heat&face=commercial) with the address and the label photo, or call.

Published by Jackman Mechanical Ltd., Toronto. Updated October 20, 2026. Free to share and quote, with a link back to this page.

## A landlord with no heat?

Call, any hour.

[Call (416) 888-1371](tel:+14168881371)

## A tenant?

Your landlord first, then 311. We work for whoever owns the equipment.

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Jackman Mechanical Ltd.: plumbing, gas and heating for homes and businesses in Toronto, North York, Mississauga, Markham and Ajax. Call (416) 888-1371. Full site: https://www.jackmanmechanical.com/