BC law treats a working furnace as the landlord's responsibility, and a total loss of heat is generally treated as an urgent repair. Here's what the rules expect and what you can do.
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Quick answer: BC's Residential Tenancy Act doesn't set an exact number of hours or days, but a total loss of heat is generally treated as an 'emergency repair' the landlord must address as soon as reasonably possible, and heating a rental is the landlord's responsibility. If your landlord won't act, you can contact the Residential Tenancy Branch, and in a genuine emergency you may be able to arrange the repair yourself and seek reimbursement after following the proper steps.
Have a heating or cooling question about your home? Call (604) 359-1081 or request a free written quote.
In British Columbia, providing and maintaining a rental that meets health, safety, and housing standards is the landlord's responsibility under the Residential Tenancy Act. A working heat source is part of that, so a broken furnace in the middle of winter is usually the landlord's problem to fix, not the tenant's.
The law doesn't spell out a fixed deadline like '24 hours' or 'three days.' Instead, a complete loss of heat is generally treated as an urgent or 'emergency repair,' which the landlord is expected to handle as soon as reasonably possible once they know about it. Non-urgent issues (say, one room that's slightly cooler than the rest) are held to a more relaxed 'reasonable time' standard.
One important note: CANRO is a licensed HVAC contractor, not a law firm. We can diagnose and repair the furnace itself, but for the specifics of your rights, deadlines, and any dispute, the BC Residential Tenancy Branch is the authority. We won't quote exact legal clauses we're not certain of.
A licensed CANRO technician can take a look — honest assessment, no pressure.
📞 (604) 359-1081Request a free quoteIf your furnace stops working, a clear paper trail protects you and usually gets things moving faster:
Whether the landlord books the repair or you're arranging an emergency one, the fix starts with a diagnosis. Many no-heat calls turn out to be a tripped safety switch, a failed igniter, a flame-sensor issue, or a bad control board, most of which are repairable rather than a full replacement. CANRO provides a diagnostic visit and a free written quote, which is exactly the kind of documentation a landlord or the Residential Tenancy Branch will want to see.
We serve Burnaby and Metro Vancouver, and our technicians are Red Seal certified and licensed with Technical Safety BC (gas licence LGA0043870). If you're a tenant, it's worth confirming with your landlord who's authorizing and paying for the work before we attend, so there's no confusion afterward.
⚠️ Safety note: A gas furnace that won't run can sometimes be linked to a gas or venting problem. If you smell gas or suspect exhaust is entering the home, leave the building and call your gas utility's emergency line and 911 before booking any repair.
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📞 (604) 359-1081Request a free quoteReviewed by the CANRO Heating & Cooling service team — July 07, 2026. Technical Safety BC gas licence LGA0043870 · boiler licence LBP0046450 · Red Seal certified · WorkSafeBC and liability insured · 4.9★ from 85+ Google reviews · serving Metro Vancouver since 1999 · (604) 359-1081.
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