Apartments can become sweltering in summer. Why heat bylaws could be coming to a city near you
New Westminster, B.C., has enacted a maximum heat bylaw requiring rental units to maintain a safe indoor temperature of 26 C during summer nights. This policy follows a deadly 2021 heat dome and aims to protect vulnerable tenants in older, poorly insulated apartment buildings.
Why it matters
As climate change increases the frequency of extreme heat events, cities are beginning to treat cooling as a fundamental housing right similar to heating.
Despite this, most residential bylaws only account for cold weather, requiring buildings to have heat in each unit and adequate insulation.
The article reports on municipal policy and public health concerns without taking a partisan stance, though it highlights the perspective of tenant advocates.
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