Tenant Rights When the Heat Fails in Winter in BC

Have a heating or cooling question about your home? Call (604) 359-1081 or request a free written quote.

Who is responsible for the heat in a BC rental?

In most BC tenancies, the landlord is responsible for providing and maintaining the heating system and keeping the unit in a condition that meets basic health, safety, and housing standards. A working heat source in winter falls under that responsibility. This is true even if your tenancy agreement is silent on the topic, because a landlord cannot contract out of these basic obligations.

Where it gets less clear is when the tenant controls a specific appliance or has agreed in writing to handle certain things. Even then, the core heating system itself is normally the landlord's to repair. CANRO is an HVAC contractor, not a legal advisor, so for the exact wording of your rights and any specific dispute, the BC Residential Tenancy Branch (RTB) is the authority to rely on.

What to do the moment your heat fails

Acting quickly and keeping a paper trail protects you if there's any dispute later. Here is a sensible order of steps:

• Notify your landlord or property manager in writing (text or email counts) as soon as you notice the heat is out. Note the date, time, and that the unit is cold.
• Do a couple of safe checks yourself first: confirm the thermostat is set to heat and the batteries aren't dead, check that the furnace switch (it looks like a light switch near the unit) is on, and make sure the breaker hasn't tripped.
• If the furnace, boiler, or heat pump still won't run, ask your landlord to arrange a licensed HVAC repair promptly. In a cold snap, a full loss of heat is urgent.
• Keep records: save your messages, photos of the thermostat reading, and any receipts if you buy a safe temporary heater.
• If your landlord doesn't respond in a reasonable time, contact the Residential Tenancy Branch for guidance on next steps and any emergency-repair rules that may apply.

What counts as a reasonable response time?

There is no single magic number that fits every situation, but the standard is reasonableness given the circumstances. A total loss of heat during a Metro Vancouver cold snap is far more urgent than a minor issue in mild weather, so it should be treated as a priority repair. If your landlord is unreachable or refuses to act, the RTB has an emergency-repair process that in some cases lets a tenant arrange the repair and seek reimbursement. Confirm the current rules and the exact conditions with the RTB before spending your own money, so you don't lose the ability to recover it.

In the meantime, stay safe. Never use a gas stove, oven, or an outdoor propane or barbecue heater to warm a room indoors, as these can produce dangerous carbon monoxide. A properly rated electric space heater used according to its instructions is the safer stopgap.

How CANRO fits in

If you're a landlord, property manager, or a homeowner responsible for a rental in Metro Vancouver, CANRO can diagnose and repair a furnace, boiler, or heat pump that has stopped heating. Our technicians are Red Seal certified and we hold a Technical Safety BC gas licence (LGA0043870), so gas heating issues are handled to code. Every diagnostic visit comes with a free written quote before any repair work goes ahead.

To book a repair or ask a question, call CANRO at (604) 359-1081 or email info@canroheat.ca. We serve Burnaby and the surrounding Metro Vancouver area and can prioritize a no-heat call during cold weather.

Frequently asked questions

Reviewed 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.