More Cities Say Apartment Tenants Have The Right To Air Conditioning

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Some U.S. cities are pushing to establish renters' rights to air conditioning, though implementing these policies faces obvious challenges, such as energy costs and the financial burden on landlords. Plus, despite the overall bad news in the U.S. office market, a new index from Avison Young shows signs of recovery with increased activity in some markets compared to last year.

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More Cities Say Apartment Tenants Have the Right to Air Conditioning

As climate change drives more severe heat waves worldwide, cities are looking to establish renters’ rights to air conditioning. Some U.S. cities are codifying tenants’ right to housing that must be cooled to a specific maximum indoor temperature, a number that varies by jurisdiction.

For now, cities that require apartment landlords to provide air conditioning are the exception and not the rule. However, as indoor heat-related deaths have risen yearly, more U.S. cities are pushing for the regulations.

Montgomery County, Maryland, passed a first-in-its-region law in 2020 requiring many multifamily landlords to provide AC equipment capable of cooling units to at least 80 degrees Fahrenheit from June through September. In July, a New York City council member introduced legislation requiring landlords to provide air conditioning equipment in the summer. Los Angeles County officials are also in the early stages of developing a similar ordinance.

Given the record-breaking heat waves in recent years, the municipal policies make sense. Much like providing heat is required for many landlords during the winter, adequate summer cooling may be next.

Crafting policies that protect vulnerable apartment tenants comes with challenges, though. Even if low-income renters have the right to air conditioning, they may not turn it on because they fear high energy bills. Cash-strapped landlords may also need help to undertake expensive retrofits. Sorting through these challenges is poised to become another regulatory battleground in the multifamily industry in the years to come.

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Q3 Building Intelligence Index: The Business Case for Comfort

Clean air and good ventilation indoors is crucial to create high-performance workplaces, schools, and healthcare environments.

Imagine walking into a building that's optimized for health and comfort. The air feels fresh and light. There are no musky or overly fragrant smells. The temperature is pleasantly cool and refreshing, and the lighting is neutral and natural.

Imagine what you could accomplish with spaces like this, where the environment seamlessly supports comfort, productivity, and well-being.

R-Zero's Q3 Index reveals the path organizations are on to create these environments and explores how indoor air quality (IAQ) and indoor environmental quality (IEQ) feeds into your smart buildings strategy.

R-Zero's Q3 Building Intelligence Index explores:

• The business case for indoor air quality and environmental comfort in buildings.

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