Necessary to Provide Tenant with A/C?

Question

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?

Michael Rossi · Answer

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

Account Closed · Answer

I've got an older mobile home that needs air a couple of weeks out of the year. I don't provide an AC, but I have the framework in place and attached to the outside of the house that is just the right height to set a window AC on.

If the tenant wants AC, they spent a $100 to buy their own and just have to slide it onto the existing stand.

That saves me from damage to the vinyl window frame and the stand is slanted so that condensation drips away from the house. It's also secured so that ordinary tenant abuse can't bring it crashing down on top of anyone.

Aly W. · Answer

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.

Michael Shadow · Answer

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

Nick J. · Answer

If you were in TX or AZ, the tenants would be too scared to ask for it  :mrgreen:

Mark Yuschak · Answer

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.

Account Closed · Answer

I'm next door in Indiana, I do not provide AC in all of my units.  If it were Texas or AZ; that would be a different story.

Dustin Lyle · Answer

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.

Mark N.A · Answer

John -- read and bookmark your local and state codes that pertain to rental real estate.

Some are quirky, like the one around here that requires screen doors unless a screened window is within a certain distance of the door.

In any event, it's always best to stay ahead of the curve in the rental business.

Marc Freislinger · Answer

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)

Necessary to Provide Tenant with A/C?

Most Popular Reply