‘It’s horrible’: Apartment without heat for days during Calgary cold snap, tenant says

ACORN Canada stands in solidarity with tenants across Calgary who have been left without adequate heat during the ongoing extreme cold snap, highlighting yet another failure of Alberta’s weak tenant protections.

It is unacceptable that tenants like Michelle Bradley, who pay exorbitant rents, are forced to bundle up in multiple layers and rely on space heaters—at their own expense—just to stay warm in their homes. Landlords have a legal obligation under the Public Health Act to provide a safe and habitable living environment, which includes maintaining functional heating systems. Yet, time and time again, tenants are left waiting for basic repairs, with little recourse and no real accountability for landlords who neglect their responsibilities.

This crisis is not new. Every winter, ACORN hears from tenants across Canada facing the same issue: landlords ignoring maintenance requests while tenants are left freezing in their own homes. Alberta’s system for addressing these complaints is flawed. While tenants are legally entitled to a minimum indoor temperature of 22°C, enforcement mechanisms are slow and ineffective, with Alberta Health Services inspections taking weeks to resolve urgent cases.

For working-class and low-income tenants, the barriers to seeking justice are even greater. Many fear retaliation from landlords, including eviction or rent hikes, and have no alternative housing options due to Calgary’s skyrocketing rents and low vacancy rates. This power imbalance allows landlords to get away with inaction, knowing that tenants often have no choice but to endure unsafe conditions.

Tenants deserve homes that are safe and livable—not a bureaucratic nightmare when their heat goes out. ACORN will continue to fight for fair housing standards across Canada, and we encourage any tenants facing similar issues to reach out to us for support.