In one of Texas' hottest major cities, air conditioning is no longer an optional perk for renters.
Houston City Council voted to require landlords to provide cooling in every rental unit, making AC a basic housing standard.
Here's what to know
Landlords now have 120 days — until December — to equip every rental unit with some form of cooling, according to the Houston Chronicle, whether it be central air, a window AC, or a portable unit.
Council approved the ordinance 12-2, ending Houston's longstanding "window screen exemption." Under that rule, owners could satisfy housing-code standards with screened windows and doors instead of refrigerated air.
In a city where intense summer heat can threaten people's health, that exception became increasingly notable. Going forward, a unit without AC will be handled through the normal code-enforcement system where residents can file a complaint, the health department can inspect the property, and landlords who do not fix the issue can face citations or end up in municipal court.
Backers of the change say it puts Houston in line with other big Texas cities and recognizes cooling as part of a safe, livable home rather than a luxury amenity.
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More background
The change comes after several years of record summer heat, coinciding with an increase in heat-related deaths in the Houston area. Indoor cooling can make a major difference for older adults, children, and people with health conditions that get worse in extreme heat.
A 2023 survey put the number of rental households without air conditioning across the Houston metro at 20,400. But that estimate includes homes outside Houston city limits, so not all of those units would be covered by the ordinance.
The Houston fight is also part of a broader Texas debate. State lawmakers tried to create a statewide requirement for air conditioning in rentals, but that effort stalled amid objections to adding more regulations for property owners.
Some Houston officials expressed similar worries. Mayor John Whitmire said he was "fearful" the rule could increase rents and utility bills, while Council Member Twila Carter said, "My concern is for the people that this policy is intended to protect. This comes at a heavy cost, and it will put people on the streets."
What's being done?
Amy Peck, a council member and realtor, said Houston already requires heat even though it had never required air conditioning. She also said renters often had little recourse when an existing AC unit broke and was not repaired.
The ordinance was backed not just by housing advocates but also by the Houston Apartment Association, and there was no apparent landlord opposition during public hearings.
Julia Orduña of Texas Housers explained, "It comes down to that right to choose how much you're going to pay for electricity. It's not about living with or without AC in your unit, it's about deciding when to turn the AC on and off."
Council Member Alejandra Salinas said, "All Houstonians deserve a right to rest from heat, and that's what this ordinance is going to do."
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