BiggerPockets

In Ohio, is it necessary to provide a tenant with A/C? I have a tenant who lives on the third floor, which is very hot in the summer, and I was wondering if it was necessary for the landlord to provide the tenant with air conditioning or is that the tenant's responsibility?

I do not provide air conditioners in low income rentals. They can buy their own or use a fan. More likely than either of these two options is that the tenant will get a FREE air conditioner, courtesy of your local community action (i.e. the taxpayers). I had a tenant that got a new free air conditioner just this week. Community action even installed it for her!

Mike

I agree with Mike. If they are low income rentals, they will get stolen. The only ones I leave, are the ones that come when I buy the place. It doesn't take but a couple of renters before they disappear.

If they are middle-higher income properties, and they don't have central air, I will install window a/c units that mount to the window and wall. (makes them a little harder to get out than the ones that just slide in)

In kentucky, The Landlord Tenant Act says that a landlord cannot take away from utilities or accommodations that were present when the lease was signed.. ie initially there was an AC then you decided to remove it.. But if it wasnt already there.. you dont have to put it there.

In Michigan I do not provide air conditioning. If the tenant wants central A/C then they can have it installed at their expense using my contractor. And, if they want a window A/C they must call me to have it installed otherwise they won't put the right pitch on it and the condensation runs back in the house and damages the flooring.

My nicer rentals get central A/C since it's typically already there when I bought the place.

It's just like providing the fridge or stove, if it breaks or quits on the tenant then you have to go out and get them another one. So if you get a place that has them in it and when you rent to a new tenant you should take the old ones out and provide it with no a/c, else you may find yourself spending 200-300 for a comparable A/C unit for them. This is spoken from experience.

-Michael

Originally posted by Mark Yuschak

And, if they want a window A/C they must call me to have it installed otherwise they won't put the right pitch on it and the condensation runs back in the house and damages the flooring.

That's exactly what my now-evicted tenant did. Put in a window unit unbeknownst to me and that's just what happened.

In this tight rental market, I offered a window unit to the new tenant for the spring, and we will install it ourselves. And that's only if she keeps the house up, causes no trouble, and has paid up the water/sewer bill. Any loss or damage to the unit she's responsible for. All of those conditions are in the lease.