“I Pay the Electricity Bill — So Why Could My Landlord Say No?”
Summer in Vancouver is getting hotter, but some renters have faced restrictions on using portable air conditioners in their homes.
Even when tenants paid their own electricity bills, landlords or building managers could restrict air conditioners because of concerns such as old electrical systems, building capacity, window safety, or possible property damage.
But Vancouver has now changed its rules.
As of June 3, 2026, landlords generally cannot prohibit tenants from using portable air conditioners in rental homes that do not already have cooling.
There are still reasonable safety requirements, and landlords are not required to buy or install an air conditioner for tenants.
For people living in older Vancouver apartments, this is a small but important change as our summers become hotter.
More information:
City of Vancouver – Rental and Renter Protection
https://vancouver.ca/people-programs/rental-and-renter-protection.aspx