As fall approaches, an idea circulates every year among tenants: that the law requires landlords to turn on the heat by a specific date, often October 15. That's not accurate. Neither the residential-tenancy legislation nor most municipal bylaws set a precise date on which a dwelling's heating must start, according to the Tribunal administratif du logement.
The real rule is about temperature, not the calendar. In winter, a dwelling's indoor temperature must sit at an approximate minimum of 21°C (70°F). In practice, that means if your home is cold in September, April, or any other month, the landlord is already in breach — you don't need to wait for a date on a calendar to assert your rights.
This absence of a fixed date in provincial law doesn't stop some municipalities from having their own bylaw on the subject — hence the official recommendation to check with your city. A lease that sets a specific heating date therefore carries no more legal weight than the temperature rule itself: it's the latter that prevails in a dispute before the TAL.
If your home is poorly heated, the steps to take are the same regardless of the season: request the repair in writing and date your request, allow a reasonable delay for a response, then send a formal demand letter if nothing changes. A dwelling without adequate heat in winter is treated as an urgent case by the TAL — these files are generally heard on a priority basis, unlike ordinary cases that can wait months.
Good to know for newcomers. Don't sign — and don't be talked out of acting — because of a lease clause that mentions a specific heating date: it doesn't change your real rights. What matters is the temperature in your home, documented if possible (a thermometer and dated photos help a lot). For the full procedure — formal demand letter, filing at the TAL, what to expect at the hearing — our guide to tenant rights in Quebec walks through every step.
