All a renter in New South Wales, Australia, wanted to know before their baby's anticipated arrival in December was if they could install an air conditioner in the nursery.
They ended up receiving a cold reply suggesting the unborn child could count as an unapproved "additional occupant," realestate.com.au reported.
Here's what to know
The tenant described the exchange on Reddit, saying they were trying to find a way to cool a small bedroom.
The rental had no central air and didn't have enough space in the future nursery for a portable air conditioner.
"I reached out to my real estate agent telling her that I wish to install an aircon in one of the bedrooms to make it comfortable for the little one," their Reddit post stated.
The renter said in the email that a split-system unit would be quieter and more practical than a portable one. They also noted that the summer, which starts in December in the southern hemisphere, is "expected to be extremely hot and labelled as 'Super El Niño.'"
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The property manager's reply shocked them.
"It is not the owners responsibility to make the property 'more comfortable' for a baby especially at such a high cost," it read in part.
The property manager continued, "The property is small and the AC in the living area has always been sufficient for the property and there are ceiling fans in both bedrooms."
However, it was the next paragraph that stunned both the occupant and Reddit users.
"Also, consider your tenancy application was approved as a single leaseholder, with the knowledge your wife would be joining you for overseas, there was no mention of possible additional occupants."
More background
Commenters on the Reddit thread were blunt.
"'There was no mention of possible additional occupants'. LMAO … no worries, just plan your family around your real estate agent," one person wrote.
"You should send this to the federal minister that has been questioning why we aren't having more babies. Housing insecurity and housing suitability is a big one. At least it was for me," another commenter observed.
What can be done?
"All I asked was if owner would be OK to arrange installation for an aircon?" the puzzled renter told Reddit users.
They added that if the owner refused, they would have been willing to cover the cost of installation.
If you're ever in a similar situation, learning how to change HOA bylaws may help you apply the same ideas to making outdated housing restrictions easier to challenge.
Where can I learn more?
Renters often hit roadblocks when they try to get safe, reliable cooling at home.
• A Texan tenant was denied a simple air conditioning request despite dangerous heat.
• In Missouri, an outdated unit left one renter distraught and upset through brutal summer heat.
• Across the U.S., policy gaps leave tenants without cooling during heatwaves even as summers intensify.
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