The heat and humidity in Houston are no joke. That heat can start affecting you outside as well as inside. If you are a renter in Texas, you might be surprised to learn that the law doesn’t make landlords provide air conditioning in apartments or rental houses. But, Texas laws on apartment air conditioners relate to rental laws in effect. Renters’ rights are a tricky subject, especially when it comes to who makes repairs. Mission Air Conditioning and Plumbing are here to help you know what repairs and replacements your landlords are responsible for and what tenants are responsible for.
For any AC repairs in Houston, Texas, Mission Air Conditioning and Plumbing is available. Call us or schedule an appointment on our website!
When Does a Landlord Cover AC Repairs?
Landlords can choose to offer air conditioning as an amenity of the rental, like a washer and dryer. If the air conditioner operates as a rental fixture, the landlord handles the ac maintenance and repairs. If the AC unit is broken, the tenant must report the broken unit to the landlord in writing. If the landlord fails to make the repairs, then the tenant can send a second notice.
No need to worry! Landlords can’t retaliate against tenants for requesting repairs that impact their health and safety. If the tenant pays their rent on time and follows the lease terms, the landlord can’t evict the tenant or end the lease.
Suppose the air conditioning unit breaks from natural wear and tear or damage from outside forces that the tenant has no control over. In that case, the responsibility lands on the landlord to replace or repair the unit and cover the costs. But, if the AC unit stops working due to neglectful behavior on the tenant’s part, then the tenant covers the costs for repair or replacement.
What Kinds of Repairs is Your Landlord Required to Make?
In Texas, the law requires that landlords fix problems that could affect the tenant’s health. This could include things like sewage and roof leaks, faulty electrical wiring, or any normal wear and tear to the rental. But, not having proper air conditioning is not considered a threat to one’s health. Landlords are responsible for any emergencies like hurricanes or flooding. In cases like this, the landlord can wait to make repairs until the property damage claim is paid for by insurance.
But, the landlord doesn’t always have to pay for repairs. If the tenant is behind on rent, the landlord may not have to pay for repairs. The law treats rent, the rights to repairs, and the refund of the security deposits differently. Moral of the story: pay rent on time! Furthermore, if any occupants or guests created the damage that needs to be repaired, the landlord doesn’t have to pay for repair costs.
The legalities of air conditioning may change depending on how the lease is written. It’s important to read the lease and to understand the tenants’ and the landlord’s responsibilities.
For AC replacement and air conditioning repairs in Houston, schedule with Mission Air Conditioning and Plumbing for work that you can trust.
