Winter checklist for property managers

Winter can be tough on buildings and on tenants, which makes this a good time to revisit the basics of winter rental property care – and clarify who’s responsible for what when the temperature drops.

Heat and hot water

Property managers must keep units livable and heated.

In Toronto, landlords are responsible for providing heating from October 1 to May 15 to a minimum of 21°C, with hot water between 45–60°C.

Check your city’s bylaws for local requirements.

Snow removal

• Apartments: Property manager handles all snow and ice

• Detached homes/duplexes/multiplexes: Tenants may be responsible for clearing their own pathways and exclusive-use areas, while the property manager remains responsible for shared or common areas

• Custom agreements: In some cases, property managers and tenants can agree on snow removal duties, but this must be set up as a separate agreement outside of the lease

In Toronto, every owner or occupant of any building must clear snow within 12 hours after a snowfall under 2 cm, or fines may apply.

Keep communication open

Make it easy for tenants to report heating or maintenance issues through tools like PayProp’s tenant portal. From there, property managers can track and manage requests centrally using PayProp’s built-in maintenance hub, making winter maintenance more manageable for everyone involved.

More maintenance headlines  

New carbon monoxide alarm requirements for 2026 – PayProp blog

Toronto city council considers maximum indoor temperature bylaw – City of Toronto

Windsor Property Standards bylaw updated to strengthen neighbourhoods – CTV News