Eclectic Homes

Do Landlords Have to Supply Air Conditioning?

During warm summer days, cool air from an ac unit may improve the living conditions in apartment or a home. State laws do not need a landlord in California to furnish air conditioning. California state law generally considers air conditioning an amenity rather than a necessity of habitability while a heating system must be usually provided by a landlord.

Providing an Air Conditioner

Even though landlords don’t face a requirement to provide an air conditioner many landlords provide a heating system. In some areas of California with humidity, landlords put in an evaporative or swamp cooler to meet with heating needs. Tenants should ask about the availability of a system that is working before they decide to rent the home or apartment.

Factors Affecting Habitability

Rental houses and apartments in California must comply with habitability needs as described in California Civil Code 1941. There is A unitn’t listed as a necessity of habitability. Some needs of a habitable unit contain heating, plumbing, gas and electrical systems in great working order.

Windows and Ventilation Systems

County, city and state building codes, which affect how easy it is to cool a property must be complied with by the unit. By way of instance, adequate ventilation must be received by rooms from a mechanical ventilation system or a window. Unless a fan or other type of ventilation system is set up in the rental unit, a window is required by most rooms. The minimum window size generally measures 20 inches and the window has to open at least.

Broken Air Conditioners

If the landlord provided an ac system in the home or apartment once the tenants moved in, the tenants can expect the landlord to maintain the ac system. The landlord is responsible for repairing or replacing the ac system, In case the system stops working without a real fault of their tenants. If the tenants caused the failure of the ac system, they pay the price of repair.

Request Repairs

A phone call followed by a written statement from the tenants informs the landlord of a air conditioning system. The landlord is given a reasonable period of time to make the repairs by the tenants. If the landlord refuses to fix the broken ac unit, the tenants may consider using the”repair and deduct” remedy. The tenants pay to repair the air conditioner and subtract the cost from the rent. On the other hand, the repair cost can’t exceed 1 month’s rent and this remedy can be simply used by the tenants annually.

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