Landlords in B.C. warning renters against installing AC units despite rising heat

Finding it a bit steamy this summer? You're not alone. Across Canada, people say they are really feeling the heat, especially in their homes. And we're tracking it. CBC teams have installed temperature and humidity sensors in dozens of homes in several cities, including Vancouver, to see just what happens to people when things go from hot to sizzling to seriously dangerous. This is one of those stories. 

Renters in British Columbia have received notices from landlords warning them against installing air conditioning units in their suites, or risk jeopardizing their tenancies.

CBC News has spoken to tenants in multiple buildings under different management companies who have expressed frustration after landlords denied their requests to install air conditioning units, just weeks after the province announced a program to provide air conditioners to eligible British Columbians.

In June, the government said it would provide 8,000 units to medically vulnerable low-income households over the next three years. In a related program, B.C. Hydro is offering residential customers $50 off the purchase of a qualifying air conditioner until July 28.

Health Minister Adrian Dix said at least 50 per cent of the free air conditioning units were expected to be installed in apartments or multi-unit dwellings.

But weeks later, tenants and tenant advocates are speaking out, saying their landlords have discouraged them from using air conditioning units.

Ryan Le Neal purchased a standing air conditioning unit for his New Westminster apartment three years ago. He wasn't worried about using it until he got an email on June 1 warning him that "management cannot authorize any tenants to install A/C units."

"I heeded the warning, you know, because of course [the landlord] states everything is in terms of wrecking your lease, voiding your lease," said Le Neal, a longtime resident of the building on Hamilton Street.

Several tenants in a B.C. building with a different landlord said they have also been told not to install AC units, but none of these tenants were willing to be quoted on it.

The notice, which Le Neal showed to CBC News, states that "if a tenant chooses to breach this material term of the tenancy and it creates damages the tenant will be liable for rectifying these damages."

It also says that "older buildings are not equipped to maintain the high usage of electricity air conditioners require" and that tenants are expected to confirm with an electrician whether equipment is safe before they use it.

Le Neal, who works as an elevator technician, says he followed the notice's instructions and consulted with electricians about his use of the AC unit. He says because the unit's rated current is 9.5 amps and it's being plugged into a circuit able to handle up to 15 amps, he feels confident it is safe for him to use.

"There's a circuit breaker on the AC unit itself as well as a breaker panel," said Le Neal. "I've used this for three years already. I haven't had any problems."

The notice was sent by landlord Dinesh Chand. According to the New Westminster Tenants Union, tenants in at least eight buildings owned by Chand, including Le Neal's, received the same notice.