London city council is proposing a new by-law that would make landlords keep apartments below a certain temperature. London ACORN argues that it would be leaving people at risk.
With this proposal, there are exemptions to what apartments need the cooling. According to a staff report, the cooling requirement would not apply if:
Jordan Smith of ACORN
- An AC unit was not already installed during the tenants current occupancy; or
- The landlord and tenant agree an AC unit is not needed; or
- The tenant has the ability to control the temperature and can prevent it from exceeding 26 degrees Celsius.
Jordan Smith, the chair of Carling-Stoneybrook of London ACORN, says the by-law does not go far enough to protect those at risk.
“The people that don’t have air conditioners ready to go… it’s the elderly, the disabled and people who have health issues,” Smith said. “So we’re really putting people at risk here.”
According to a 2023 report by ACORN, 79 per cent of tenants say they are impacted by extreme heat, and 44 per cent of that group do not have access to cool temperatures at home.
Council is expected to consider the proposed by-law on Oct. 14.
