My landlord (who bought the building about 2 years ago) has been a nightmare. My old landlord used to charge me $100/season (his figure, not mine) to run two 5000 BTU’s because my apartment was unliveable in the summertime otherwise, even then it only took the edge off, still wasn’t really cool. Every year he’d increase the fee by the same percentage he’d increase the rent. I was good with that and I didn’t run the AC every day or when it wasn’t necessary.

Then the new landlord bought the building and that summer refused to take the caps off the AC sleeves until tenants signed to accept their hydro (which had previously been included in our rent.) They didn’t tell us our rights either and just very subtly made it obvious that we would not be able use our ACs unless we did what they wanted. They also informed us that they would be charging $50 to each tenant to install/remove the ACs and that no one else but them was allowed to do it. None of this was legal but it took me threatening to go to the LTB and the newspaper before they relented. As it is, some tenants fell for it and signed for their hydro with only a tiny reduction in their rent. In the end I paid the same as I usually did.

The next summer they asked for $150 seasonal fee but said they would install/remove my units so I agreed. However, this year they issued a memo to all tenants putting the cost for me to circa $400 for the same service they only asked $150 for last year! When I tried to negotiate, they refused to even talk about it. I don’t even run the AC’s when I’m not home AND I tend to not run them every day either. If I don’t need to run both, I don’t.

After they refused to even speak to me on the issue, I had to contact the Landlord and Tenant Board who advised me that fee was definitely illegal and I got back to them and they still refused to budge. Finally I had to tell them I would be calling the local newspaper to tell them about the illegal fees and the situation and then they suddenly changed their minds. So it’s not always tenants who are at fault. I’m a very reasonable tenant and this landlord likes to screw his tenants around when he can…

As a renter, the temperature in my unit easily exceed 35 degrees in the summer, even with the windows open, and a fan.

Because I’m not crazy, and don’t want to roast my cats during the summer months, we bought an AC unit for the main room; unfortunately, the unit is older and has only 2 prong outlets available.

We’re looking to eventually purchase a home that will allow us to rent. While I don’t want my tenants to die from heat stroke in the top floor, I hope that the cost of the extra power is borne by them. I can supply the unit, that’s not expensive, its the power.

Also, as was pointed out, the power costs to the province could be serious. How many people will try to turn their apartments in to meat lockers, outting the temp to 17 degrees ona 30 degree day?