21 degree minimum
Posted Oct 26, 2011 11:53:05 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The City of Kitchener is reminding landlords and property owners of their obligation to keep rental units at a minimum of 21 degrees Celsius, as per the City’s by-law.
The by-law applies to tenants in rental homes who don’t have control over their heat.
Shayne Turner, Director of By-Law Enforcement and told 570 News, there have been cases where by-law had to step in, “most of the time the officers are able to resolve the issue very quickly, however there have been times when the municipality has gone in and had to undertake the work to bring the heat up to the minimum standard.”
Turner said minimum heat is a health and safety issue, “for anybody, but for tenants in particular when they can’t control the heat.”
Turner says in the case of landlords not adhering to the bylaw, a compliant can be made with the City’s by-law enforcement division, “we would recommend that they call their landlord first, it’s only fair for the property owner to have a chance to respond. If the tenant is not getting adequate service from the landlord then they call call our central number.”
That number is (519) 741-2330. Calls go to a 24/7 call centre which then advises the by-law office.
