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<\/p>\nThe high 90s are not uncommon during Houston summers. While most commercial spaces have air conditioning, several residential buildings do not. But that is about to change.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Now, every landlord is required to provide and maintain working air conditioning in every unit.<\/p>\n
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The decision came after Council Member Alejandra Salinas proposed a Right to Air Conditioning ordinance. She framed the measure as a basic health-and-safety fix.<\/p>\n
\u201cHouston made clear that no renter should be left to endure dangerous indoor heat without reliable cooling,\u201d Salinas said. \u201cThis is a commonsense health and safety habitability standard that will protect seniors, children, people with disabilities, and working families across our city.\u201d<\/p>\n
While the Texas Penal Code requires<\/a> landlords to repair damaged air conditioning units that affect tenants\u2019 health, it does not require landlords to provide ACs if they did not have them previously. In addition to mandating cooling, the ordinance closes a loophole that previously allowed property owners to avoid installing ACs entirely if the unit had a window screen.<\/p>\n The code includes units in which landlords have agreed to provide heating or cooling in the lease, the equipment in the unit produces \u201cinadequate\u201d heat or cooled air, and they have been informed that the lack of heating or cooling impacts the \u201chealth or safety\u201d of a tenant.<\/p>\n What does the ordinance change?<\/strong><\/p>\n The new language in the ordinance strikes the exemption that only requires landlords to provide functional ACs and maintain them at an indoor temperature 20\u00b0F below the outside temperature, or no higher than 80\u00b0F.<\/p>\n Under the new rule, landlords will have 120 days to comply, up from the originally proposed 90 days, and will be required to make \u201creasonable and continuous progress toward providing and maintaining refrigerated air equipment.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Per city documents, retrofitting older buildings with central air conditioning will not be required. Window units and portable units will satisfy the standards in the ordinance.<\/p>\n How many people are impacted?<\/strong><\/p>\n Per U.S. Census data, 22,485 households in Harris County have no air conditioning.<\/p>\n In 2023, Houston experienced multiple days of record-breaking heat, including the highest temperature of 109\u00b0F. Approximately 20,400 households<\/a> in Houston lack air conditioning, according to 2023 Census Bureau data.<\/p>\n According to the ordinance, landlords would be required to provide a window screen or an interior temperature of 89\u00b0F if air conditioning is required.<\/p>\n Since April 1, 2026, there have been 2,745 heat-related illness<\/a> emergency visits in the Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery County region. Between 2019 and 2023, more than 7,600 such cases have been reported. The item material also notes at least 279 heat-related deaths statewide in 2022.<\/p>\n
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