Much of this year has been unseasonably warm. Due to this heat, I’ve heard from many tenants in our community that their apartments have been uncomfortable and that getting a good night’s sleep, in particular, has been difficult. That’s why I put forward a motion at city council that seeks to establish appropriate room temperatures for renters.
Currently, the Municipal Code requires landlords to turn on the heat in rental housing units from Sept. 15 to June 1. This is to ensure that the room temperature be maintained to at least 21 degrees Celsius. With the colder weather approaching, it is certainly a comfort to know that our city has this bylaw in place. However, enforcement by date rather than by temperature often leads to a tenant’s unit being not only uncomfortable, but possibly even presenting a public health issue for the elderly and/or tenants with certain medical conditions during hot days before June 1 or after Sept. 15.
With the support of council, I’ve asked the City of Toronto to look at changing the Municipal Code to reflect this reality. Moreover, it may be necessary to set an acceptable maximum temperature at which rooms can be heated. My intent is not to necessarily make air conditioners mandatory — there are many environmentally friendly ways to cool apartments. I’ve simply asked that this issue be studied by city staff and a report come to the appropriate committee with public input. When this review begins this fall, I encourage midtown tenants, and all stakeholders, to make their voices heard.
You can learn more on my website at www.joshmatlow.ca.