Right Thing to do for tenants when the air conditioning is out

Columbia, South Carolina
Managing Your Property
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Right Thing to do for tenants when the air conditioning is out

Pat M.
Member since 2024 · 5 posts · 4 votes

I have a unit where the air conditioning is out and it is extremely hot. Parts required and it will be a week to get fixed. May be a silly question and I'm a new landlord and was wondering what if anything I should do for them in the interim while we wait for the parts to repair the unit. 

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Gregory SchwartzBusiness Member
Rental Property Investor · College Station, TX · Member since 2016 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
2y

@Pat M. I've been in Columbia in the summer without AC. Brutal. 

We face similar heat waves here in College Station, TX. We keep a window unit in reserve to install in emergency situations. For the most part, this will only keep the bedroom cool but it is better than nothing. 90% of the time the tenants are very appreciative. 

Some HVAC companies will offer a service where they'll rent one out to you while you wait on parts. 

Good luck and GO COCKS! 

[email protected]443-812-0357
Schwartz Realty Group5118 Reviews
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  • Gregory SchwartzBusiness Member
    Rental Property Investor · College Station, TX · Member since 2016 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    2y

    @Pat M. I've been in Columbia in the summer without AC. Brutal. 

    We face similar heat waves here in College Station, TX. We keep a window unit in reserve to install in emergency situations. For the most part, this will only keep the bedroom cool but it is better than nothing. 90% of the time the tenants are very appreciative. 

    Some HVAC companies will offer a service where they'll rent one out to you while you wait on parts. 

    Good luck and GO COCKS! 

    [email protected]443-812-0357
    Schwartz Realty Group5118 Reviews
    WebsiteView Page
    4Reply
  • Troy P.
    Investor · Baton Rouge, LA · Member since 2019 · 184 posts · 167 votes
    2y

    I would have a window unit on standby and install it for them in a central area of the home.  It's mostly out of your control, but at least make 1 room comfortable.

    2Reply
  • Pat M.
    OP
    Member since 2024 · 5 posts · 4 votes
    2y

    Thanks! and yes Go Cocks! It is a USC rental. I'll check with the AC company. Appreciate the response. 

    0Reply
  • Patrick Roberts
    Lender · Charleston, SC · Member since 2019 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    2y

    I'd either rent a window unit AC or buy a roll-around indoor unit from Lowes/Home Depot. I know of an investor who bought one of these, use it for a few days, and then returned it to the bigbox store once the HVAC was fixed. I'm not saying this is ethical or that I would do it, but I've seen it done. If you have the storage room, having one of these might be handy for future SC summers, as I'm sure this will happen again at some point. If not, sell it used for 60-70% when you're done. I would not let my tenants sit in a house with no AC for a week in what's literally the hottest period of the year. 

    3Reply
  • Bruce WoodruffPro Member
    Contractor/Investor/Consultant · San Diego / Phoenix · Member since 2021 · 12k+ posts · 15k+ votes
    2y

    I would buy and keep in reserve one of the portable units on wheels...

    1Reply
  • Will GastonPro Member
    Rental Property Investor · Columbia, SC · Member since 2010 · 1k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    2y
    Quote from @Pat M.:

    I have a unit where the air conditioning is out and it is extremely hot. Parts required and it will be a week to get fixed. May be a silly question and I'm a new landlord and was wondering what if anything I should do for them in the interim while we wait for the parts to repair the unit. 


     I would try and get them some fans or portable unit. Happy to connect you with a local AC company if need be.

    1Reply
  • Nathan GesnerBusiness Member
    Moderator
    Real Estate Broker · Cody, WY · Member since 2010 · 28k+ posts · 41k+ votes
    2y

    I keep window units in reserve for my renters to borrow while waiting for repair.

    The DIY Landlord Book4.7247 Reviews
    WebsiteView Page
    1Reply
  • Theresa HarrisPro Member
    Member since 2019 · 15k+ posts · 11k+ votes
    2y

    Have a portable unit on back up.  Give them some fans to borrow.  I'd also remind them of things to do to keep it cooler in the unit (open windows in the evening-if it is safe to do so, and early morning to let in cooler air and let how air out) and keep curtains or blinds closed to avoid sunlight coming into the unit (ie when sun is shining on that part of the building).

    1Reply
  • Adam BartomeoBusiness Member
    Real Estate Broker · Cape Coral, FL · Member since 2015 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    2y

    Summers in FL are hot and when an AC goes down tenants lose it. FL state law does not require the owner to provide AC but we want to keep the tenants happy so we attempt to do just that. The problem to the solutions of having a window AC or portable on standby is that if your portfolio is large you will have to have $10s of thousands of dollars of ACs for "just in case" moments. I would be careful about opening that pandoras box if you have lots of units.

    [email protected]239-339-3969
    Bartomeo Property Management4.7150 Reviews
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    0Reply
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