Bill mandating air conditioning in Texas rental units faces strong headwinds

As summer approaches, Texas lawmakers are trying to provide relief for some people living in rental

properties who often deal with stifling conditions. A bill has been introduced that would guarantee

renters a right to air conditioning. However, opponents say repairs would simply be too costly

putting pressure on landlords. State Representative Cheryl Cole's measure would require landlords

to provide cooling systems and offer accommodations when repairs take more than five days

It says a landlord must provide an AC system in good operating condition

that maintains a temperature equal to or lower than 85 degrees or 10 degrees below the recorded temperature outside

Fellow Representative Christina Morales of Houston put it this way, quote, no one should suffer or die in their own home

just because they can't afford air conditioning. According to public records there were 80 heat deaths from 2019 to 2023 in Harris County Advocates say tens of thousands of rental units in Texas have no form of air conditioning Advocates for affordable housing believe the issue is urgent in cities like Houston Austin

and San Antonio. Right now, there are no statewide laws for tenants to have cooling or a guarantee

to have a faulty unit fixed in a timely manner. However, there are costs to consider. In Austin

at a recent hearing for a local law mandating air conditioning, a representative from the Austin

Apartment Association said installing air conditioning in apartments built before the 1970s would be, quote, financially devastating for landlords and would result in higher rent

for tenants. Other states, including California, New York and Oregon, all have air conditioning

laws on the books to protect tenants. Back in Texas, community planners are not expecting the

statewide mandate to pass in the legislature. For advocates like Texas Housers, they worry about

funding as well. They believe the future of the federal low-income home energy assistance program

is now in doubt due to layoffs. For more unbiased updates, download the Straight Arrow News app