# Property maintenance in Waterloo, rental licences and inspections Updated 2026-10-02. Waterloo licenses every low rise rental, and the licence comes with two inspections we can book: a licensed electrician's inspection dated within 12 months, and, from July 1, 2026, a licensed gas fitter's check of the heating appliances every other year ([City of Waterloo](https://www.waterloo.ca/building-and-renovating/residential-rental-licences/get-a-long-term-rental-licence/)). ## Book the inspections with the renewal The renewal dates are fixed: August 31, 2026, November 30, 2026 and March 31, 2027 for the first round of gas inspections. We book the electrician and the gas technician ahead of the date, and any fix they find goes on the same work order with photos and the signed form. Gas work is done by TSSA registered contractors. We only use ECRA/ESA-Licensed Electrical Contractors. Pest control is done by licensed exterminators. See [ESA permits in rentals](https://roundhousegroup.ca/answers/esa-permit-electrical-work-rental/) and [TSSA gas work](https://roundhousegroup.ca/answers/tssa-gas-work-rental-property/). ## Student neighbourhoods The licensing by-law names the University of Waterloo, Wilfrid Laurier University and Conestoga College and exempts their on-campus housing; everything off campus is licensed ([by-law page](https://www.waterloo.ca/bylaws-and-enforcement/bylaw-directory/rental-housing-licensing-bylaw/)). The City tracks occupancy of new buildings in the student community each September: in 2022, 203 Albert Street, 250 Phillip Street and 269 Sunview Street were granted occupancy and 155 King Street North was delayed ([occupancy tracking](https://www.waterloo.ca/news/posts/occupancy-tracking-for-2022-student-move-in/)). See [student housing](https://roundhousegroup.ca/student-housing/). ## Hard water Much of the region's water comes from groundwater wells and is hard; the [Region](https://www.regionofwaterloo.ca/programs-and-services/water-and-wastewater/drinking-water-supply/) notes the minerals build scale in pipes and appliances. On a water heater or a dishwasher call, the plumber checks for scale and notes whether a softener is fitted. Plumbing is done by licensed plumbers and drain work by licensed drain contractors. ## Who to call The City owns local watermains and sewers and answers breaks and backups at 519-886-2310, 24 hours a day ([report a watermain break](https://www.waterloo.ca/water-utilities/watermains-and-valves/report-a-watermain-break/)). Property standards go to Municipal Enforcement at 519-747-8785. [Kitchener](https://roundhousegroup.ca/areas/kitchener/) and [Cambridge](https://roundhousegroup.ca/areas/cambridge/) have their own pages, and the three cities share the [Waterloo Region page](https://roundhousegroup.ca/areas/waterloo-region/). To send a Waterloo job, [request work](https://roundhousegroup.ca/request-work/). ## What the Waterloo licence asks for - Every low rise rental unit needs a City licence under the Rental Housing Licensing By-law 2025-044, which replaced By-law 2011-047. Low rise means any rental unit not in an apartment building of 3 or more storeys and 5 or more units with a shared corridor and entrance, so houses, semis, duplexes, townhouses and basement units are all covered. Source: [City of Waterloo, Rental Housing Licensing By-law](https://www.waterloo.ca/bylaws-and-enforcement/bylaw-directory/rental-housing-licensing-bylaw/) - Every application includes an electrical inspection (Form D) by a licensed electrician, dated within the past 12 months, and either a gas or oil heating appliance inspection by a licensed gas fitter (Form E) or a declaration that there are none (Form F). Form E applies to new applications from July 1, 2026 and to renewals due August 31, 2026, November 30, 2026 or March 31, 2027, then every other year. Source: [City of Waterloo, Get a long term rental licence](https://www.waterloo.ca/building-and-renovating/residential-rental-licences/get-a-long-term-rental-licence/) - An owner who heats a rented unit provides at least 21 C (sections 1.0 and 3.0 of the Adequate Heat By-law 2017-001). Space heaters may be used only temporarily and only if electric (section 5.0). The by-law sets no dates. Source: [City of Waterloo, Adequate Heat By-law 2017-001](https://www.waterloo.ca/bylaws-and-enforcement/bylaw-directory/adequate-heat-bylaw/) - In rental property, heating, ventilating and mechanical systems, air conditioners included, are kept maintained and able to operate by the landlord (section 9.5.1 of Property Standards By-law 2011-122). Source: [City of Waterloo, Property Standards By-law 2011-122](https://www.waterloo.ca/bylaws-and-enforcement/bylaw-directory/property-standards-bylaw/) - A lot with a single detached, semi or townhouse on full municipal services can hold up to four units, with at most one coach house. A rental licence is needed before any tenant moves in. The City's ARU grant pays up to half the cost, to $30,000 for a detached unit or $20,000 for an interior one, if the unit rents at or below 80 percent of average market rent for at least 5 years. Source: [City of Waterloo, Additional residential units](https://www.waterloo.ca/building-and-renovating/additional-residential-units-arus/learn-about-additional-residential-units-arus/) ## Related pages - [Student housing](https://roundhousegroup.ca/student-housing/) - [Do I need an ESA permit for electrical work in a rental property?](https://roundhousegroup.ca/answers/esa-permit-electrical-work-rental/) - [Who is allowed to work on a gas furnace in an Ontario rental?](https://roundhousegroup.ca/answers/tssa-gas-work-rental-property/) ## Questions ### What inspections does a Waterloo rental licence need? An electrical inspection by a licensed electrician dated within 12 months, and, from July 1, 2026, a heating appliance inspection by a licensed gas fitter every other year, or a declaration that there are no gas or oil appliances. ### Does a Waterloo basement apartment need its own licence? Yes. The licence covers every rental unit outside an apartment building, and basement and secondary units are included. ### What temperature does Waterloo require in a rental? 21 C, under the Adequate Heat By-law 2017-001, where the owner pays for heat. That is one degree above the provincial 20 C. ### How quickly does Waterloo respond to a property standards request? The City says it responds within 2 business days. It can order repairs, and owners have 14 days to appeal an order.