New proposal would require Houston landlords to provide air conditioning

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- Monday's rain cooled us off quite a bit, but there's no getting around it: Houston summers are hot!

But did you know landlords in the City of Houston right now aren't required to provide air conditioning?

Councilmember Alejandra Salinas is proposing an ordinance that, for the first time in city history, would require landlords to provide some form of air conditioning with refrigeration, whether it's central air or a window unit.

The latest census data shows nearly 23,000 homes in Houston and its surrounding area don't have air conditioning.

As of right now, in the City of Houston, landlords don't have to provide A/C if the property has window screens.

If there are no screens, landlords must keep rental units at 20 degrees below the outside temperature.

So, for example, a home would have to be kept at 80 degrees if it's 100 degrees outside.

If the ordinance passes, landlords would have 90 days to comply before facing city fines.

The ordinance already has support from multiple community organizations, but opposition from landlords and property rights groups could set up a battle.

Salinas said the ordinance would go to a committee first and then likely to the council for a vote by the middle of August.