Don't EVER rent a hot water heater

[dre]

You should also know that when you buy a home, you may be taking on the responsibility for an existing water heater contract that comes with your home. Ask the homeowner, your real estate agent or your lawyer for more information before buying the home.

Ontario’s Consumer Protection Act protects consumers who rent water heaters. Before you rent, be aware of your rights.

You have the right to cancel a contract:

1. Within 20 days after you’ve signed your water heater contract - you do not need any reason to cancel.
2. The contract does not meet all the requirements of Ontario’s Consumer Protection Act. In this case, you have up to one year to cancel the agreement.

You also have additional rights if a water heater was installed during the cooling off period, unless you invited your existing supplier to your home, your water heater was determined be unsafe or was recalled and it is replaced by your existing supplier.

At Ontario’s Ministry of Government and Consumer Services, we are here to help.

If you have questions or concerns about water heater suppliers or rentals, call us in the Greater Toronto Area at (416) 326-8800, toll-free at 1-800-889-9768 or via e-mail at [email protected].

Sounds like if you have owned your house for either less than 20 days or less than 1 year you might have some outs.

[Argus]

Well, the way this has been resolved is through my complaining to the general manager of the builder and pointing out the length of the contract they had bound me to, and the poor economics of the deal, and how this reflects on their reputation. This brought in someone high up from the water heater rental company, who made a claim I made them walk back. My bringing in information from the Competition Bureau, which has been active in charging and convicting them of anti-monopolistic practices (making it difficult for clients to stop renting their water heaters) helped, as well. I definitely think they didn't like me mentioning all this to the builder, much less threatening a complaint to the Bureau which would also involve the builder. The manager at Direct Energy called me at 7:30 at night to discuss my options, ie, to see how she could get me to shut up.

They will replace the uber expensive tankless water heater with a regular water heater at no charge, and this has a much more reasonable buyout price which I will take immediate advantage of.