# Can a city inspector force my landlord to fix my broken heater?

- Jurisdiction: Canada
- Practice area: Tenancy Law
- Published: 2026-10-30
- Last updated: 2026-10-30
- Canonical: https://lawasked.com/ca/tenancy-law/can-city-inspector-force-my-landlord-fix-my

## Question

I live in an apartment building in Ontario, and for the last three weeks, the heating in my unit has been completely non-functional. It has been freezing since the middle of November, and the temperature in my bedroom drops below 12 degrees at night. I have contacted my landlord, Mr. Henderson, four separate times via email and phone since November 10th. He keeps promising that a technician will arrive to perform the necessary labour, but nobody has shown up, and he hasn't even sent a formal notice about the delay. I am worried about my health and the cost of my electricity because I am running two space heaters constantly just to stay warm. I finally called the local municipal office to complain about the lack of maintenance. They told me they might send someone out to look at the building's heating system. If a city official actually comes to my complex and sees that the heat is broken, can they officially order my landlord to finish the repairs by a specific date, and what kind of details should that official document include to make sure the landlord actually follows through?

## Summary

Yes, if a city inspector finds that your heating system does not meet maintenance standards, they can issue a formal work order to your landlord. This order will require Mr. Henderson to complete the repairs by a specific deadline.

## Analysis

Under Ontario law, your landlord, Mr. Henderson, has a legal duty to maintain your apartment in a good state of repair and ensure it meets health and housing standards [2]. Because your bedroom temperature is dropping below 12 degrees, the heating system is likely failing to meet these required standards.

If you have already contacted your local municipal office, they have the authority to send an inspector to your complex. If that inspector is satisfied that the heating system is not up to code, they can issue a work order. The law states the inspector "may make and give to the landlord a work order requiring the landlord to comply with the prescribed maintenance standard" [1]. A work order is an official command from the government for a landlord to fix a problem.

To ensure Mr. Henderson follows through, the inspector's document must include specific details. According to the law, the order "shall set out... (a) the municipal address or legal description of the residential complex; (b) reasonable particulars of the work to be performed; (c) the period within which there must be compliance with the terms of the work order; and (d) the time limit for applying... to the Board for a review" [1]. This means the order will clearly state exactly what needs to be fixed and the deadline for doing so.

If Mr. Henderson disagrees with what the inspector wrote, he has 20 days to apply to the Board to review the order. However, the municipality is also responsible for monitoring whether landlords actually follow these orders.

Please note that state, provincial, or local laws may add further rules, and you should check your specific municipal bylaws.

## Statutory citations

- Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 (Ontario), S.O. 2006, c. 17, s. 225 - Inspector’s work order [in force] (https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/06r17#BK225)
  > the inspector may make and give to the landlord a work order requiring the landlord to comply with the prescribed maintenance standard... The inspector shall set out in the order, (a) the municipal address or legal description of the residential complex; (b) reasonable particulars of the work to be performed; (c) the period within which there must be compliance with the terms of the work order; and (d) the time limit for applying under section 226 to the Board for a review of the work order.
- Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 (Ontario), S.O. 2006, c. 17, s. 20 - Landlord’s responsibility to repair [in force] (https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/06r17#BK20)
  > A landlord is responsible for providing and maintaining a residential complex, including the rental units in it, in a good state of repair and fit for habitation and for complying with health, safety, housing and maintenance standards.

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