How to escape the summer heat in a rented apartment

Spending the summer in a metropolis is not a pleasant prospect, especially if you live in a rented apartment with a broken air conditioner.

The Brooklyn Daily Eagle reports that the law in New York does not currently require landlords to control the temperature in residential premises. However, according to the journalists, this may change in the near future.

In the citywide sustainability plan, the authorities have proposed a clause on mandatory cooling of rental apartments. The maximum indoor temperature, the document says, can be 85 degrees Fahrenheit (29:44 Celsius). If the city authorities manage to achieve this, the law will come into force in 2025.

Is it possible to force a landlord to repair an air conditioner even if the law does not require it?

Andrea Shapiro, director of the Met Council on Housing's tenant protection program, says it is possible, especially if the apartment already has a broken air conditioner.

"If you've moved into an apartment like this, you have every right to demand that this appliance be functional."

In particular, Shapiro said, "They are obliged to repair or replace the air conditioner." At the same time, he advises demanding a used unit from the landlord as the rent may increase if a new one is installed.

If the landlord refuses to change anything, you can contact the tenants' rights protection association or the Housing Court in your neighborhood.

"Filing a lawsuit," the expert explained, "costs $45, but you can ask for a fee waiver, which works quite often.

By the way, while the air conditioner is being repaired, you don't have to suffer from stuffiness. You can escape the heat at the nearest Public Cooling Center.

In New York City, cooling centers open when the air temperature exceeds 95 F (+35 C) and lasts for two days.