Rental Accommodations Program
Environmental Health Officers (EHOs) work closely with tenants and property owners to ensure that minimum health standards in long term rental accommodations are met. Legislative authority for this program includes the PEI Rental Accommodation Regulations associated with the provincial Public Health Act. The activities under this program are complaint generated, and may originate from a tenant or a property owner.
Involvement in these cases is often in cooperation with the Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission and the Office of the Director of Residential Rental Property.
Health Related Concerns
EHOs will investigate health related concerns in a rental accomodation. Examples of health related concerns include:
- Potable water concerns
- No hot water, no running water, etc.
- Sewage or septic concerns
- Sewage back-up, clogged pipes, etc.
- Heating issues
- Unable to maintain a minimum indoor temperature of 18.5oC (65oF), etc.
- Pest infestations inside the dwelling
- Mould, as a result of water damage
Steps to Report a Health Concern
Step 1: Contact your landlord, property owner or property management
The first point of contact regarding any health-related concern in a rental situation is your landlord or property owner.
Step 2: Report to Environmental Health
If your concerns are not addressed in a reasonable period of time, you may wish to request an inspection.
Before contacting Environmental Health or submitting an inspection request, consider:
- Is the concern a health related concern?
- Have you notified the landlord, property manager, property owner, etc.?
- Environmental Health will not become involved in a rental concern if the landlord, proper owner or property management has not been contacted and given appropriate time to address the concern
- Environmental Health cannot assist with financial issues (e.g. rent increases, compensation, withholding rent, etc.)
- Environmental Health does not offer indoor air quality testing, EHOs complete visual inspections only
- If you want indoor air quality testing, you must contact a private company
Inspection Process
- Submit a request for inspection of a rental accomodation unit
- EHO reviews the request for inspection and contacts the applicant to discuss
- EHO discusses the concerns with the property landlord
- If an on-site inspection is required, the EHO will arrange a date and time to complete it
- EHO completes an on-site inspection
- EHO discusses observations, recommendations and requirements with the tenant and the landlord
- EHO issues a written letter outlining the observations, recommendations and requirements, including deadlines for action or completion
Questions About a Rental Agreement
The Office of the Director of Residential Rental Property can help you with questions relating to your rental agreement, rent increases, eviction, security deposit and other non-health related questions or concerns.
Fire Safety Concerns
If you have fire safety concerns about your rental unit (e.g. fire escapes, smoke detectors, egress), contact a local fire inspection office.
Provincial Fire Marshal's Office
Additional Information
Residential Tenancy Office
Mould
Government of Canada: Guide to addressing moisture and mould indoors
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation: Mould in Housing
Pests
Government of Canada: Rats and Mice
Government of Canada: Cockroaches
Government of Canada: Mole and Voles
Rental Information
Community Legal Information - Renting on PEI: A Guide for Tenants and Tenants
Other Agencies
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I request an inspection of my rental unit without my landlord knowing?
No. If an inspection is completed at a rental unit, the landlord will be advised.
I found mould in my rental unit, what do I do?
You can generally clean small and medium sized areas of mould by yourself. You should consider getting professional help with extensive mould growth. For more information, visit Government of Canada: Mould
I found an infestation of insects in my rental unit, can I treat with store bought products?
Store bought chemicals are not as effective as professional pest control chemicals, which can only be applied by certified pesticide applicators on PEI. Store bought chemicals can also affect the health of humans and pets if not applied properly. The use of store bought chemicals is not recommended when dealing with an infestation.
Is my landlord responsible to ensuring the temperature in my rental unit is warm enough?
Yes. The landlord is responsible to ensure the rental unit is weather-proof and capable of being adequately heated with a reasonable consumption of fuel. Heating equipment must be in working order, good repair, and able to maintain a minimum temperature of 18.3°C/65°F in the rental unit.
I do not know who my landlord is, can I still report a health concern with my rental unit?
Yes. Always report a health concern with your rental unit.
My friend has an issue that they do not feel comfortable reporting, can I call and make a report on their behalf?
Consent from the tenant or landlord is required to complete an inspection of a rental unit.
Do tenants have responsibilities in the Rental Accommodation Recgulations?
Yes, Section 14 of the Rental Accomodation Regulations outlines tenant responsibilities:
- maintain the unit in a clean and sanitary condition
- if requested, provide the name of each person living in the unit to the property owner
- immediately notify the owner in writing of any defective plumbing, unsanitary condition or infestation in the unit
- immediately notify the owner and a public health official of any reportable communicable disease within the unit
- cooperate with the owner and other tenants to maintain bathrooms, toilet rooms, closets, halls, stairways and other parts of the dwelling/property in a clean and sanitary condition
- do not use any fixture, service or appurtenance connected with the dwelling in any other manner than its intended purpose
Can I submit a request for inspection if I am a landlord?
Yes.