Group seeks tenant right for home cooling as heat wave leaves many renters struggling
New survey shows high rate of heat-related deaths in cities with many renters
Tenants across Edmonton are experiencing barriers when it comes to cooling down during this week's heat wave.
For Mike Wing, his rented apartment has reached 30 C every day this week.
The apartment where he lives is older and doesn't accommodate modern air conditioning. He can't afford to buy a portable unit and his landlord won't pay to have one installed.
The heat can become unbearable for Wing, who has a genetic disorder that leaves him vulnerable to extreme temperatures.
"It's definitely something that's a concern for me," he said. "Especially because part of my disability is that I overheat very easily, so it is important that I try to stay cool."
Much of the Canadian west has been in the grips of a heat wave, with temperatures climbing well into the 30s and very little in the way of overnight cooling.
The concern about renters living in overheated situations has prompted the organization Climate Justice Edmonton to advocate for tenants to have the right to cool housing. The group held a news conference about the issue Thursday.
Lack of accessible cooling systems
A Statistics Canada report published in June found that the rate of heat-related deaths was higher in Canadian cities that have more renters. According to Statistics Canada analyst Matthew Quick, this could be due to a lack of accessible cooling systems for tenants.
The risk is also higher for seniors, people suffering from respiratory issues and people with disabilities, the report said.
"There seems to be a growing amount of reporting and other research studies that tend to find that renters are at higher risk potentially due to this lack of air conditioning," he said.
In previous research, Quick concluded that renters were less likely than homeowners to be able to afford air conditioning.
Hannah Bayne, an organizer with Climate Justice Edmonton, agrees.
"Renters are experiencing extreme impacts on all of their health, both mental and physical," she said. "Landlords are not helping them."
Cooling strategies
The group launched a survey in May to find out how the heat impacts renters in Edmonton. Detailed responses have come in from 119 individuals, who describe cooling strategies like multiple cold showers, paying to stay at an air-conditioned hotel, sleeping on outdoor porches, and avoiding the use of indoor cooking appliances.
Almost all respondents said they were concerned for their health and safety or the health and safety of their loved ones, Bayne said.
"We wanted to focus on drawing attention to people's rights and comfort and to safety in their lives," said Bayne. "This can be seen as only a comfort issue when it is in fact a health and safety issue."
The organization held a news conference on Thursday morning urging the Alberta government to implement regulations around adequate cooling in rental accommodations. Currently, the laws for landlords and tenants in Alberta only require landlords to meet a minimum standard for heating.
"This is an issue for working-class, everyday people," said Bayne. "The people in power are not protecting them and are not upholding their rights to live safely and in a state of true well-being."
Similar advocacy efforts in Ontario have met resistance, including concerns about costly retrofits, impacts on electricity and the potential that mandatory cooling systems could lead to rent hikes.
Last year, the British Columbia government partnered with B.C. Hydro to launch a program that provided 6,000 air conditioners to low-income individuals who could be at risk in extreme heat conditions. The program came in response to the 2021 heat dome that killed more than 600 people.
Chris Hummelle, an operations manager at Rob's Albertan Service Experts, said he has noticed an increase in calls for cooling services as temperatures have increased. But those calls are more likely to come from people who own their homes, he said.
"Sometimes with an apartment-type install or condo, there's restrictions from condo associations or from the building structure," he said.
Wing said he thinks landlords should provide portable air conditioning units to tenants. In the absence of any assistance, Wing does what he can to keep cool.
"We have two fans going, and one of them is actually set on a pet … but other than that, trying to go outside and be in air-conditioned places as much as possible," he said. "I'm also drinking lots of water."
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