Nearly half of Canadian low- and moderate-income renters surveyed lack air conditioning

Nearly half of Canadians renting on low or moderate incomes report they do not have access to air conditioning in their homes. A national survey by a tenant advocacy group found that 44 per cent of these renters said they lacked any air-conditioning. Across Canada, many live in older buildings without cooling systems or with high utility costs that make running an air conditioner unaffordable.

The survey included more than 700 renters with low or moderate incomes living in various provinces. The results showed that 44 per cent had no air conditioning, even during the hottest months of the year. When asked why, nearly 46 per cent said cooling units were too expensive to install or power.

Those without cooling face serious risks during heat waves. In poorly insulated units, indoor temperatures can rise quickly, risking dehydration, heat exhaustion or even heat stroke, especially for vulnerable people like the elderly or those with health conditions. Air conditioning has been shown to reduce heat-related hospital visits and deaths.

At the same time, 67 per cent of renters are paying out of pocket for utilities in buildings that lack energy efficiency upgrades. Only 19 per cent of tenants reported any efficiency improvements, and among those, a third said their rent was raised afterward. That means many low-income renters are trapped in a cycle of rising costs without getting relief or better living conditions.

The tenant group behind the report is using these findings to push for stronger protections. They are calling for mandatory climate-friendly retrofits tied to affordability rules, anti-eviction agreements, energy poverty programs, and tenant participation in retrofit decisions. They want federal and provincial governments to make sure green upgrades don’t become excuses for rent hikes or forced evictions.

Without government action, the survey warns extreme heat will hit renters hardest. As Canada faces hotter summers, the risks grow. Tenant advocates say access to safe and affordable cooling is not a luxury—it’s a necessity in a warming world.