# Property maintenance in Milton, where most renters live in a house Updated 2026-10-02. Milton is a town of houses, and most of its rentals are inside them. That shapes the work: basement units, townhouse turnovers and a furnace that serves two households, more than towers with a superintendent on site. ## Registered units, kept registered Since April 1, 2025, every unit added to a house is [registered with the Town](https://www.milton.ca/en/business-and-development/additional-residential-units.aspx) so the fire department knows it exists. A repair in a registered unit, whether an egress window, a smoke alarm or a door between units, is closed out with photos so the unit still matches what was registered. A new unit still needs a building permit and has to meet the Zoning By-law, the Building Code and the Fire Code. See [basement apartments](https://roundhousegroup.ca/services/waterproofing/basement-apartments/). ## Heat from September to mid June Milton's [heat season](https://www.milton.ca/en/town-hall/resources/Accessible_Bylaws/131-2012-Property-Standards-Consolidated.pdf) runs from September 1 to June 15, longer at both ends than many GTA cities. In a house split into units with one furnace, the tenant without the thermostat is owed 20 C, and the work order notes which unit controls it. See [the heating season](https://roundhousegroup.ca/services/hvac/heating-season/). ## Halton water and the flooding subsidy [Halton Region](https://www.halton.ca/for-residents/water-and-wastewater-services) owns the water and wastewater system, so a watermain break or a backup in the street goes to the Region at 311. A backup on the private side goes to a licensed drain contractor, and the camera clip goes with the subsidy application to the Region. By-law complaints, property standards included, go to Licensing and Enforcement at 905-878-7252 ext. 2137 or through the [online contact form](https://forms.milton.ca/ContactUs/Licensing-and-Enforcement-Contact-Form). ## Who does the work Plumbing is done by licensed plumbers and drain work by licensed drain contractors. Gas work is done by TSSA registered contractors. We only use ECRA/ESA-Licensed Electrical Contractors. Pest control is done by licensed exterminators. To send a Milton job, [request work](https://roundhousegroup.ca/request-work/). ## Milton by-laws in force - From September 1 to June 15, heat keeps habitable space and tenant areas, including recreation and laundry rooms, at 20 C or more, measured 1.5 m above the floor and 1 m from exterior walls (section 17.11 of Property Standards By-law 131-2012). It does not apply where the tenant controls the temperature and can reach 20 C (section 17.12). Portable heaters cannot be the primary heat except in an emergency. Source: [Town of Milton, Property Standards By-law 131-2012 (consolidated)](https://www.milton.ca/en/town-hall/resources/Accessible_Bylaws/131-2012-Property-Standards-Consolidated.pdf) - Since April 1, 2025, every new or existing additional residential unit is registered with the Town, at a one time fee of $340 per unit, so Fire and Rescue Services has current emergency information and zoning compliance is confirmed. Since June 25, 2024, an urban lot on municipal water and sewer with a detached, semi or townhouse can hold up to three additional units, four homes in all. Source: [Town of Milton, Additional residential units](https://www.milton.ca/en/business-and-development/additional-residential-units.aspx) - Since July 15, 2022, a short term rental of 28 days or less needs a Town licence and must be the owner's principal residence, with guests capped at two per bedroom. The annual fee is $375. Source: [Town of Milton, Short term residential rentals](https://www.milton.ca/en/living-in-milton/short-term-rentals.aspx) - Halton Region's basement flooding subsidy pays once per property: 100 percent up to $6,500 for weeping tile disconnection with a sump pump, 100 percent up to $900 for downspout disconnection, 50 percent up to $4,000 for lateral lining or repair and 50 percent up to $1,600 for a backwater valve. Source: [Halton Region, Basement flooding prevention subsidy application](https://www.halton.ca/repository/basement-flooding-prevention-subsidy-application) ## A rental market of private landlords 17.4 percent of Milton households rented in the 2021 Census, 6,950 of them, up from 14.1 percent in 2016. The Town counts about 709 purpose built rental units, so about 90 percent of renters live in the secondary market: a basement unit, a rented townhouse, a private landlord's condo. Single detached houses are 57 percent of the housing stock ([Town of Milton Housing Needs Assessment](https://www.milton.ca/en/living-in-milton/resources/Home-and-Property/Town-of-Milton-Housing-Needs-Assessment.pdf)). ## Related pages - [Property Maintenance in Halton Region](https://roundhousegroup.ca/areas/halton-region/) - [Basement and secondary suites](https://roundhousegroup.ca/buildings/secondary-suites/) - [Water in a Toronto Basement Apartment](https://roundhousegroup.ca/services/waterproofing/basement-apartments/) ## Questions ### Why does Milton charge to register an ARU? Milton's $340 one time registration, in place since April 1, 2025, gives Fire and Rescue Services current information on which homes have additional units and confirms the unit meets zoning. ### When does a Milton landlord have to supply heat? From September 1 to June 15, at 20 C or more in habitable space and tenant areas, under section 17.11 of By-law 131-2012, unless the tenant controls the thermostat and can reach 20 C. ### Who do I call for a watermain break in Milton? Halton Region, at 311 or 905-825-6000. The Region owns water and wastewater in Milton, Oakville, Burlington and Halton Hills. ### Where do property standards complaints go in Milton? To the Town's Licensing and Enforcement team at 905-878-7252 ext. 2137, in person at Town Hall, or through the Town's online contact form.