Global News: ‘My bed is cold’: Residents of East York apartment calling for landlord to boost heat
Posted January 8, 2018
Tenants living in an East York apartment say they are wearing jackets to bed because the building’s heat isn’t on high enough.
Posted January 8, 2018
Tenants living in an East York apartment building say they are wearing jackets to bed because the building’s heat isn’t on high enough.
“My bed is cold. My mattress is cold,” resident of 75 Eastdale Avenue Susan Tandrasse said.
They are calling on CAPREIT, the landlord of the building, to boost the temperature during the city’s latest cold spell.
Environment Canada issued an extreme cold warning for Toronto and most of southern Ontario Thursday, and it is expected to last through to Sunday.
“We should not be freezing our buns off at night and turn our ovens on during the day to keep warm,” Tandrasse said.
“It’s no way to live.”
Tandrasse said she wants more heat until the winter is done and for management to leave it at a “toasty, warm temperature [so they] are all happy.”
Janet Davis, the area’s city councillor, was at the rally on Saturday and told residents she spoke with CAPREIT.
“Landlords have to keep the heat on to keep tenants warm,” she said.
“They’ve committed to increase the heat overall…the other thing they have agreed to is that they will meet with you regularly.”
Davis said landlords must heat units to a minimum temperature of 21 degrees, according to city bylaw and if landlords don’t comply, tenants can contact 311.
“The bylaw officer will come out and come to your unit to measure the heat and will issue an order to landlord to provide a heater or to address the overall building temperature,” David said.
CAPREIT has not responded to Global’s request for comment.
The heat was fully functioning at the time of the protest, which residents said was because the management company found out about the rally.
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Article by Erica Vella for Global News