Landlord Responsibilities in Ontario: Energy Efficiency Upgrades Mean Happy Tenants

Published on February 25, 2019

As a landlord, your responsibilities in Ontario involve more than just following bylaws or paying taxes. You are tasked with keeping your tenants happy and comfortable, as happy tenants are more likely to stay and review the building well, and to continue paying rent. The most significant way that a home, building, or apartment can become more comfortable is through insulation and energy efficiency upgrades.

There are a number of rebate programs that are available to help make it more affordable for landlords to make energy efficiency upgrades, and they are able to be used on each and every home that you own (provided each home individually qualifies).

BSG’s Registered Energy Advisors are happy to help you sort out which rebates would be the most effective for you to consider in each of your rental properties, and they are able to show you which energy efficiency upgrades would net you the biggest energy and utility bill savings per dollar spent. For this reason, BSG is proud to be your renovation and rebate expert in Ontario.

Energy Efficiency Upgrades Lower Utility Bills and Improve Comfort

By making upgrades to the energy efficiency level of a home, building, or apartment, a number of noticeable changes may occur: the home or building becomes less drafty and more comfortable to live in, the cost to keep the place heated or cooled becomes lower, the level of interior air quality improves, and even the market value may improve. These are all qualities of a home, building, or apartment that are highly desirable for tenants, homeowners, and landlords alike - making it more than worthwhile for you to consider making energy efficiency upgrades to your rental properties.

Through an independent survey from our friends at Great Northern Insulation, a number of homeowners and tenants were polled in regards to home comfort and energy efficiency, with

over 38 percent of people responding that they felt a cold draft near their windows, and over 19 percent saying they had unwanted odours invading their home due their neighbours.

By making insulation and airtightness improvements, unwanted odours can be kept at bay, and undesirable drafts can be kept in check. With the recent legalization of recreational cannabis, there is a higher risk regarding the air quality in your rental properties, which means there is also a risk of losing tenants who are: odour sensitive, have children or are elderly, or those with prior respiratory issues.

An Airtightness Test can help you uncover every unseen area where smoke or odour can intrude, allowing you to take action to improve the air quality and comfort of your rental property. This means you are more likely to keep satisfied, comfortable, and happy tenants.

Similarly, a Home Energy Assessment can indicate which energy efficiency upgrades would be the most cost-effective for you to consider, and it can even project expected energy and utility bill savings for each of the suggested upgrades. Our Registered Energy Advisors will work with you to determine which renovations or energy efficiency upgrades would be the most optimal for you to consider, based on: you and your tenants’ needs, your wallet, and your available time for upgrades.

Taking Advantage of Rebates to Help Keep Happy Tenants

A Home Energy Assessment can help any or all of your rental properties qualify for up to $5,000 of home renovation rebates that are currently offered to both Union Gas and Enbridge customers. Our Registered Energy Advisors will ensure that you will be able to receive your maximum available rebate in regards to your energy efficiency upgrades, and that the rebate you are aiming towards is the most cost-effective option for you to consider.

If you are looking to renovate in between different tenants, our advisors can guide you towards the most effective and efficient path of renovations, ensuring that your goals and time constraints are met, and that you will still receive your rebate cheque in the mail.  

Both Save on Energy and Hydro One are offering rebates to rental property owners who make energy efficiency improvements. Our Registered Energy Advisors can determine if any or all of your rental properties can qualify for these rebates, and they can guide you towards the rebate options that would provide you with the biggest upgrades to energy efficiency, while also maintaining the upgrades’ cost-effectiveness.

BSG Are Your Rebate and Home Renovation Experts

The independent survey from our friends at Great Northern Insulation also included feedback from past customers, with many expressing their happiness regarding the easiness of applying for and receiving their rebate cheques, and their experience working with our Registered Energy Advisors.

On a facebook review, one customer says, “BSG was wonderful to work with. They made the rebate process easy and simple.” While another praised our advisors’ assistance in helping them figure out which rebates were the most optimal for them to aim towards, so that they were able to receive the largest rebate cheque possible.

By contacting BSG, you are taking action towards keeping your tenants happy and comfortable, and towards lower utility bill payments. With over 93 percent of people surveyed indicating that they experience some form of discomfort at home, it is worthwhile to consider improving the energy efficiency, airtightness, and insulation in all of your rental properties - rebates can be claimed for each qualifying home, building, or apartment that you own.

Our Registered Energy Advisors are equipped to answer any questions you may have about the level of energy efficiency or comfort in your rental properties, and they are happy to explain and go-over the results of your Home Energy Assessment to ensure that you are making the most cost-effective decision regarding your energy efficiency upgrades.

Knowing what your landlord responsibilities are in Ontario is only half the battle. Keeping comfortable and happy tenants for as long as possible can be challenging and frustrating without the right help. Contact BSG today and set up an appointment with one of our Registered Energy Advisors - the sooner you take control of the energy efficiency and comfort in each of your rental properties, the sooner you can save money and improve your tenant’s satisfaction.