Arizona sues landlords after tenants say units topped 90 degrees during summer heat

When air conditioning fails in southern Arizona, a rental dispute can quickly become a health and safety crisis. 

State officials are now taking legal action after tenants said some Tucson apartments remained far hotter than county rules allow during extreme summer heat. Dasmen Residential, a real estate investment firm, is facing several allegations of negligence at their properties.

Here's what to know

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes has sued the owners and managers of three Tucson apartment complexes, Sedona Springs, Sienna Ridge, and Summit Ridge, over alleged air-conditioning failures and other unsafe living conditions.

KGUN reports that indoor temperatures at all three properties frequently rose above 90 degrees, even though the lawsuit notes that Pima County requires units to be kept at 80 degrees or below.

Mayes said in a statement, per KGUN, "The ongoing neglect Dasmen Residential and Luxford Living continue to display by failing to supply adequate air conditioning to residents at Sedona Springs, Sienna Ridge, and Summit Ridge puts residents' lives at serious risk, especially during extreme summer heat."

KGUN also reported that the complaint describes additional issues stretching back to at least 2023, including pest infestations, broken windows, structural damage, and trouble with water and gas services.

One resident even told the outlet that their toilet hadn't worked for ten straight days. Some residents feared retaliation from their rental company when speaking with the media. 

What's being done?

Mayes is seeking a permanent injunction that would force the owners and operators of these three properties to make needed repairs, per KGUN. The lawsuit would also bar them from renting units to Arizona consumers until the apartments meet legal requirements.

Beyond those fixes, the complaint also seeks restitution and civil penalties tied to the alleged harm to residents.

At least one resident told KGUN that despite the lawsuit, they are not confident that Dasmen Residential will improve things. Unfortunately, this is a common trend across the United States, where landlords and real estate firms provide sub-par conditions to their renters, all to increase their profit margins.

Dasmen Residential did not respond to KGUN's request for comment.

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