Housing & Utilities: Preparing Secondary Suites & Rentals for Winter Heating Rules

As cold weather approaches, Canadian municipalities and provincial residential tenancy acts enforce strict minimum heating regulations. In most jurisdictions—including Ontario, British Columbia, and Alberta—landlords are legally obligated to maintain an indoor air temperature of 20°C to 21°C in all habitable rooms throughout the heating season (typically September through May). Whether you are a student renter living in a basement secondary suite or a landlord managing a multi-unit property, pr