WEBSTER, Texas (KTRK) – As we enter one of the hottest stretches of the summer, we’re hearing from renters across the Houston area who are having issues with their air conditioning.
Teresa Pena, who lives in the Solano Apartments on NASA Parkway in Webster, is one of them.
“The temperatures rose to 80, 82 degrees,” Pena said.
The Solano advertises central air conditioning, but you wouldn’t be able to tell by the number of window units installed throughout the complex.
“One day, yes. One day, no. Suddenly in the middle of the day you think, ‘Oh my God, what’s going on?’ And you check the air conditioning and it’s almost 27 degrees, and it’s very frustrating,” Pena explained.
Pena showed us emails from management from last year about widespread problems with the air conditioning. She says the problem has been repeatedly fixed with makeshift solutions.
Right now, the air conditioning fan in her apartment is running, but it’s not blowing particularly cool air, even though she’s submitted work orders. She says management considers the problem “fixed.”
Pena says the complex loaned window units to some residents in the wake of the recent power outage.
“I saw there were about 75 people ahead of me on the list, and they said they didn’t know when they would finally give me a window unit. So I got a fan and put window units in the bedrooms to have some relief at night,” Pena explained.
Despite all this, she is one of the lucky ones: friends and family lend her two window units.
“Without the help of the window units, temperatures would probably be above 30 degrees,” said Pena.
The complex is owned by Radiance Living, but the local government did not respond to Eyewitness News’ question about whether it has any plans to fix the problem.
“If you are in a similar situation, you may be wondering if you can get out of your lease if you are paying for an apartment that is supposed to have air conditioning but it doesn’t always work?” ABC13 asked an attorney.
The answer is: “Yes, if the landlord does not take steps to fix the problem.”
You would need to notify your landlord and take all necessary steps, but a non-working air conditioner will affect your health and may result in you having to get out of your lease.
However, if your landlord makes a “reasonable” attempt to fix the problem, it will be difficult to get out of your lease.
In this case, it is best to put your request for a solution in writing, rather than just communicating it to the manager in person. You should also document the situation by taking photos and videos, and by keeping a record of communications between you and the landlord.
Further information on repair requests can be found here.
Eyewitness News asked a lawyer if there was anything else that could be done in this situation.
It depends on where you live. In the city of Houston, an ordinance requires landlords to ensure that the temperature inside is at least 20 degrees cooler than outside.
So if it’s 100 degrees outside, it must be at least 80 degrees inside.
If the air conditioning system does not meet this standard, you should report it to the city at 311.
Eyewitness News checked, and Webster does not have this ordinance, but after we called, a city building official went to the complex.
They say management has confirmed there are problems with a cooling unit and that it should be repaired by the end of the week.
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