Heating Season is Here - Heat is Your Right as a Tenant

“My apartment has no heat. What do I do?”

Your landlord is required to provide heat to your living space. The heat provided must also be sufficient; at least 68 degrees Fahrenheit. If you rent and your house or apartment does not have heat or is too cold, you have a few solutions. Start by contacting your landlord to check your furnace or heating system. You may be responsible for the electric or gas bill, however the property owner is obligated to supply a permanent heat source to your home. Make sure to put your requests in writing: leave a note at the office, text or email your landlord. This will provide a timeline of the request for your home. While you work to resolve the heating issue, you also have the option of supplementing the heat with a space heater. Exercise caution with space heaters and keep flammable items, such as bedding and clothing, at least three feet away. Read the label on the heating appliance to avoid fire hazards.

Reach out to your local housing authority. In many locations this will be your health department or municipal code enforcement. Whoever enforces the housing code for your city or county can take action immediately. (Read more about enforcing housing code here)

Some important things to remember for heating season

• Max indoor temperature under 68 degrees is too cold, contact your landlord/property management

• Do not use your stove or oven to heat your home, this is a fire hazard

• If your landlord is unresponsive, contact the health department or other housing enforcement agency

• Plug space heaters directly into the outlet. Do not plug space heaters into power strips, wall taps or extension cords, this is a fire hazard

• Insulating windows and weatherizing doors can lower your heating bill

• Heating season in the United States is typically from October 1st to May 31st each year (varies by state)