Winter Property Management Tips for Ontario Landlords

Lease and Rental Management

Winter creates specific property management challenges for Ontario landlords — proactive preparation reduces emergency calls, minimizes property damage, and keeps tenants comfortable.

Heating system preparation before November 1: service all furnaces, boilers, and heat pumps at managed properties before the heating season begins. An HVAC service call in September costs less and takes less time than an emergency call on a January night when the furnace has failed. Provide tenants with instructions for the thermostat and what to do if heating fails.

Ontario Tenancy Law

Pipe freeze prevention briefing for tenants: provide written instructions at the start of the heating season explaining how to prevent frozen pipes — keeping cabinet doors under sinks open in cold snaps, maintaining minimum thermostat setting of 15°C even when away, and reporting any drafts near pipes immediately. Include the emergency plumbing contact number.

Water shutoff location documentation: every tenant should know where the main water shutoff for their unit is located. In the event of a pipe burst, the ability to shut off water immediately minimizes damage. Post this information in the unit during the fall season briefing.

Protecting Landlord Rights

Eavestrough and roof inspection before first freeze: ice dams that form in January begin with eavestrough blockages from fall leaf accumulation. Clear all eavestroughs by October 31 and inspect roof flashings that may have been disturbed during summer.

Snow removal contractor confirmation: confirm your snow removal service for the season before November 15. Reputable contractors fill their route capacity early in the fall. Waiting until December to arrange service for a rental property leaves you with limited choices and potentially inferior service.