HAA Blog
Summer A/C Repairs
Posted by Government Affairs
on Wednesday, June 06, 2012
What do you do when your A/C breaks in the middle of the summer?
First, HAA strongly recommends that renters submit all repair requests in writing, as most lease contracts (including the TAA lease - see www.taa.org for a sample) require this in order for management to make the repairs. Renters should NOT withhold rent for needed repairs, as this gives the owner the right to evict the resident for nonpayment.
On the flip side, the Texas Apartment Association also recommends that owners not exercise legal rights to disconnect utilities (for bona fide repairs, etc.) during the summer unless "absolutely necessary" due to the "health and safety issues that could arise
from utility disconnects during times of extreme temperatures" and requests that communities respond "sensitively" to repair requests.
For more information on how to stay cool and safe during the summer, visit TAA's Neighbors CARE page to learn more about their resident awareness program and HAA's Beat the Heat page for safety resources and guidelines.