Spotting and addressing property standards issues can feel overwhelming, but it is important to start by telling your landlord or property manager. Give them a reasonable amount of time to respond or make repairs. If the issue isn't addressed, you can report it to the City of Kingston for inspection.
These Bylaws cover:
Heating
Electrical
Plumbing
Pest prevention
Graffiti
Yards maintenance
Common violations:
Drafty windows
Windows with no locks
Broken exterior locks
Leaky faucets
Broken outlets
Pest infestations (mice, rats, insects)
Unfortunately, many Kingston rental homes are in violation of these Bylaws, which can create health and safety risks, reduce energy efficiency, and lead to higher utility bills.
Property Code quick reference
This quick reference highlights the most common issues student renters experience in Kingston. It draws from the Property Standards bylaw, the Ontario Fire Code and the Residential Tenancies Act (RTA) to help you understand what your rental should include and what your landlord is responsible for.
- Must be weatherproof, structurally sound and free of loose or unsafe materials.
- A roof is not a balcony or hangout space. If a tenant uses the roof improperly, for example, sitting, standing or hosting people on it, they can be held responsible for any resulting damage.
- From Sept. 12 to June 1, if heat is included in your rent, your landlord must provide adequate and suitable heat. This means your unit must be able to maintain a minimum temperature of 21.1°C (70°F).
- Every rental must have a heating system capable of maintaining 21.1°C (70°F).
- Portable heating units provided by the landlord cannot be your primary source of heat.
- A landlord (or anyone working for them) cannot disconnect your heat, except temporarily for repairs or replacement.
- If heating repairs leave you without heat, your landlord should clearly explain:
- How long the repair will take.
- What noise and/or disruption to expect.
- Whether workers will need access to your unit.
- Alternative heating source depending on the time of year.
- If electric heat is currently included in your rent, the landlord can transfer the bill to all tenants if they follow the rent-reduction rules in the Residential Tenancies Act (RTA).
- Between Nov. 15 and April 30, utility providers cannot disconnect a tenant’s electricity or gas.
- Rental properties must be kept free of rodents, insects and other pests at all times. Pest control is a shared responsibility between landlords and tenants.
- Landlords must:
- Find and seal entry points
- Arrange and pay for extermination.
- Ensure windows, vents, and other openings are properly screened
- Make sure basement floor drains are screened to prevent pests from entering
- Tenants must help prevent infestation by:
- Storing garbage properly
- Keeping food in durable, pest-resistant containers
- Maintain general cleanliness to avoid attracting pests
Tell your landlord as soon as you notice insects, rodents or signs of pests. Early reporting prevents the problem from getting worse and harder to fix.
- Preventing mould starts with controlling moisture. While Kingston's bylaws and the RTA don't specifically mention mould, rules about walls, floors, ventilation, and moisture control help reduce the risk.
- Bathrooms must have either a window that opens or a working ventilation fan.
- Keeping a unit too cold can cause condensation, which leads to mould. Leave space between large furniture (beds, sofas, bookshelves) and exterior walls so warm air can circulate.
- Use the stove exhaust hood when boiling water and/or cooking.
- If there's no hood, open a nearby window to release steam.
- Clothes dryers must be vented to the outdoors. Hanging too much wet laundry indoors increases humidity and can lead to mould.
- Mould can grow in places that you can’t see. Property Standards Inspectors conduct visual, non-invasive inspections. They cannot open walls or ceilings to look for hidden mould.
- Heat (in season), water and electricity are considered vital services. Your landlord can’t leave you without these services for extended periods. The only exceptions are situations outside the landlord's control, such as severe weather, major infrastructure failure, or emergencies like a fire in a neighbouring building.
- Landlords must ensure your unit has: heat (during the required heating season), running water and electricity. They cannot intentionally shut off or interrupt these services.
- If you are responsible for paying utilities, you must: keep your accounts active, and keep your utilities for the entire length of your tenancy.
- Tenants cannot live in a unit without heat, water or electricity, even if they are the ones responsible for their utility accounts.
- Your home must be structurally safe, well-maintained, and equipped with required safety devices. These standards help prevent injuries and ensure your rental is safe to live in.
- All parts of your home must be free of rot and able to support its own weight plus normal use.
- Exterior stairs and porches must be in good repair and protected from the elements with paint or another preservative.
- Stairs with more than three risers or a height over 600mm must have a rigid handrail for safety.
- Parking areas must be surfaced with asphalt, crushed stones, paving stones, or concrete. Bare dirt is not an acceptable parking surface.
- Every unit must have at least one smoke alarm on every level. Alarms must be working and properly installed.
- Every unit must have a carbon monoxide detector, especially if the home has fuel-burning appliances or an attached garage.
- Windows and doors must be kept in good repair and function safely.
- Glass must be intact, frames not rotted, and weather-stripped in place.
- Doors must be protected from deterioration (paint or stain).
- Windows and doors must be reasonably draft-free.
- They must open and close under normal pressure without jamming.
- They must lock properly if intended to lock.
- Every unit must have one main entrance with a lockable dead bolt.
- Windows and doors must have screens to keep out insects and pests.
- In multi-unit buildings, the unit number must be posted on or beside the door. Bedrooms should have a window, but it doesn't need to open if it faces a fire escape and meets Ontario Fire Code requirements. Bedroom doors do not need locks. A landlord must approve any interior door lock.
- Landlords do not have to change locks between tenancies.
- Walls, ceilings and floors must be free of holes, cracks, loose coverings, or other defects.
- Bathroom and kitchen floors must be water-resistant and easy to clean.
- Wooden floors in bathrooms and kitchens must be sealed and cracks filled.
- Walls next to showers or tubs must be water-resistant.
- Basement floors and walls must not allow water to enter. Floors must be at an acceptable level.
- There must be no gaps where garbage can accumulate. Look for proper baseboards, moldings, or sealed joints.
- Worn or torn flooring (including carpet) must be repaired, replaced, or removed.
These are small but important rules that often catch student renters by surprise.
- Indoor furniture stays indoors
- Furniture made for indoor use cannot be used or kept outside.
- If indoor furniture left outdoors becomes damaged or dilapidated, it must be thrown out.
- City officials may issue a ticket if indoor furniture is left outside your home.
- Garbage and recycling timing
- Put garbage and recycling containers at the curb after 6 pm the night before collection.
- Bring bins back in before 6 pm on collection day.
- Setting waste out too early can result in a city ticket.
- Emergency contact posting
- Every rental property must have 24-hour emergency contact information posted in a common area (like a front hallway or lobby).
- This must include someone authorized to respond to issues at the property.
- Occupancy rules
- Occupancy is based on the square footage of the unit, not the number of “bedrooms”.
- Building code allows two people to share a sleeping space.
- If you are unsure whether your unit is overcrowded or need help navigating next steps, contact the Off-Campus Living Advisors office by booking an appointment or emailing ocla@queensu.ca.
Identifying property standards issues can be challenging, but the first step is to always notify your landlords or property manager. Give them a reasonable amount of time to respond or make repairs.
If the issue isn't addressed, you can report it to the City of Kingston for inspection. While Ontario's Residential Tenancy Act (RTA) doesn't set a specific waiting period, the expectation is that tenants allow landlords a fair amount of time to fix the problem before escalating it.