RentSafeTO

RentSafeTO: Apartment Building Standards is a City of Toronto program. The City works with landlords to keep rental buildings up to maintenance standards. The program’s goal is making sure tenants live in safe and well-maintained buildings.

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    Cooling spaces for tenants

    Due to changes to the Indoor Temperature Bylaw, Toronto Community Housing (TCHC) will provide a cooling room in all buildings that do not have air conditioning in all rental units. Cooling rooms will be maintained to 26°C or below.

    The space will be available to tenants from Monday, June 1 to Wednesday, September 30, 2026. 

    We will post the location of your building’s cooling room and/or the closest publicly accessible air-conditioned space on the RentSafeTO bulletin boards. These boards have a blue border and are in a public area in your building, like the lobby.

    You can also visit the City of Toronto’s website to find a cooling space near you. 

    A image of posters on a bulletin board.

    An example of a RentSafeTO bulletin board and poster layout ( image credit: City of Toronto - version date: February 3, 2021).

    RentSafeTO colour-coded sign requirements

    The City of Toronto updated the Apartment Building Standards Bylaw and introduced colour-coded signs for all buildings under the RentSafeTO program. All buildings will display their scores by posting City-issued green, yellow or red signs near the building’s main entrance.

    How are buildings scored?

    • Green (85 to 100 per cent): Satisfactory. The building meets most or all City maintenance standards and has few or no violations.
    • Yellow (70 to 84 per cent): Needs improvement. The building meets some City maintenance standards and may have some violations.
    • Red (0 to 69 per cent): Needs significant improvement. The building meets few City maintenance standards and may have several violations.

    To look up your building’s evaluation results, you can visit the City’s of Toronto Interactive Building Score Map.  

    Images of the RentSafeTO colour-coded signs.

    Caption: Examples of green, yellow and red colour-coded signage that will be displayed in buildings (image credit: The City of Toronto).

    Frequently asked questions

    What is considered a cooling room?

    A cooling room is a communal, accessible space tenants can use for recreational or social activities. Hallways, lobbies and laundry rooms are not considered spaces for a cooling room. All cooling rooms will have air conditioning available. 

    What hours are the cooling rooms open?

    Between Monday, June 1 and Wednesday, September 30, cooling rooms will be open to tenants between 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. If there is an extreme heat alert, the cooling room hours will be extended. Information about extended hours will be posted on your building’s bulletin board. 

    Should I be concerned if my building is issued a yellow or red sign?

    A yellow or red colour rating does not mean your building is unsafe or closed. The colour code indicates the maintenance issues that were found and will need to be addressed. 

     

    Why are colour-coded signs are being displayed in buildings?

    Putting the sign in a public space near the entrance is a requirement from the City of Toronto. The new colour-coded signs are designed to make building conditions more transparent and easier to understand for tenants, vendors and the public. These signs will show the building’s most recent evaluation score and highlight how well-maintained the building is and where improvements need to be made. 

    How often are buildings evaluated and scored?

    Under the RentSafeTO program, buildings evaluations happen once every two years. During the evaluations process, a building’s common areas, mechanical and security systems, parking, and exterior grounds will be checked and evaluated. 

    Can my building’s score change?

    Yes, your building’s score can change over time. If the colour rating for your building changes, your Superintendent will post the new signage within 14 calendar days of being notified about the change. 

    I can’t find my building’s signage.

    All colour-code signage will be displayed near your building’s main entrance. If you find that sign is missing or damaged, please contact your building’s Superintendent.  

    Questions

    If you have questions about the RentSafeTO program, please connect with:

    • Your building’s Superintendent
    • Your Tenant Services Coordinator

    To find out who your Tenant Services Coordinator or Superintendent are, visit your local tenant service office or call the Client Care Centre 416-981-5500 (TRS 7-1-1). 

    For maintenance requests on evenings and weekends, call the Client Care Centre at 416-981-5500 (TRS 7-1-1).