ONTARIO – Let’s face it. Climate change is complicated. But amid the extremely humid Ontario weather, air conditioning is no longer going to be a hassle for some tenants of Ontario.
“At most risk are people with disabilities, older people and low-income, Indigenous, Black and other racialized communities that have little or no access to air conditioning and are more likely to live in areas with fewer parks and shaded outdoor areas,” a statement from the Ontario Human Rights Commission reads. “People experiencing homelessness also face increased risks of exposure-related illnesses associated with the rise in temperature. This is especially true in urban areas where heat is more extreme.”
OHRC has ruled that due to the extreme rising temperatures caused by climate change, tenets, especially those with medical disabilities, have a right to air conditioning “without discrimination in housing based on Code grounds,” said the OHRC.
Therefore, landlords will not be able to prohibit the use of air conditioning units on rental properties under their lease agreement.
“Under the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 (RTA), tenants must have access to vital services such as heat, hot and cold water, electricity and fuel (such as natural gas). A landlord or housing provider cannot shut off these services, even if a tenant has not paid their rent. Landlords and housing providers might pay for vital services or tenants might pay for them depending on the lease agreement,” according to the OHRC.
However, at the moment, the Residential Tenancies Act does not include air conditioning as a vital service, which is something the official opposition is ready to change.
NDP Housing critic Jessica Bell will re-table her motion to change the Residential Tenancies Act so it includes a maximum temperature for central air.
Currently, the RTA requires landlords to set central air condition at 26°C between June and September.
“Extreme heat makes life sickeningly unbearable for everyone, and it’s dangerous for people — especially seniors and people with disabilities,” said Bell. “I want to thank the Ontario Human Rights Commission for calling out dangerous air conditioner bans. Now, I’m calling on all members of the legislature to join me in protecting the people.”
The changes in the RTA will be part of NDP’s Green New Democratic Deal plan, which will upgrade Ontario’s building code, building retrofits to make housing greener and more energy efficient, and support for municipalities to strengthen their infrastructure and grow urban forests to lower temperatures in towns and cities.
