Houston Landlords Will Have to Provide Working Air Conditioning in New Mandate

• Houston City Council approved a new ordinance requiring landlords to provide working air conditioning in rental properties.
• Landlords will have 120 days to comply, but they will not be required to install central air; window units can satisfy the requirement.
• The Houston Health Department will enforce the rule, with tenants able to request inspections through 311.
• The ordinance removes a longstanding exemption that allowed some rental properties to operate without landlord-provided air conditioning if they had window screens.

What The New Air Conditioning Rule Requires

Houston landlords will soon have a new habitability requirement to deal with: rental properties must have working air conditioning. The new City Council ordinance eliminates an exemption that previously allowed landlords to avoid providing air conditioning if rental units had window screens. Under the new rules, property owners will have approximately 120 days to make sure their rental units have a functioning cooling system. Importantly, the ordinance does not require landlords to install central air conditioning. Window air-conditioning units are sufficient, giving owners a less expensive option for bringing older rental properties into compliance.

What The Rule Means For Houston Landlords

For property owners, the new requirement means additional maintenance and potential upfront costs, particularly for older apartments and rental homes that were never equipped with air conditioning. Landlords will have a compliance period before enforcement begins, giving them time to install units or repair existing systems. The requirement could be particularly relevant for owners of older multifamily properties where cooling systems vary from unit to unit. Houston's hot and humid climate makes air conditioning a significant operating consideration for rental properties. The city has also been moving toward stronger inspection and habitability requirements for apartment properties. The Planning and Development Department notes that Houston's development regulations cover building and site requirements, while city code provides additional requirements for properties.

What Tenants Can Do If A Unit Lacks Air Conditioning

The Houston Health Department will be responsible for enforcing the new air-conditioning requirement. Tenants who believe their rental does not comply will be able to contact the city through 311 and request an inspection. Landlords will have opportunities to correct violations before citations are issued. The policy comes as Houston continues dealing with extreme summer heat. According to the reporting behind the ordinance, Harris County Public Health recorded approximately 7,600 heat-related illnesses between 2019 and 2023, highlighting the health concerns behind the new requirement.

What The Rule Could Mean For Rental Costs

The biggest concern for landlords and renters is cost. Installing window units may be considerably less expensive than installing central HVAC, but owners will still face equipment, installation, electricity and maintenance expenses. Some landlords may attempt to account for those costs through higher rents when leases turn over. Supporters of the ordinance argue that air conditioning should be treated as a basic health and safety requirement rather than an optional amenity. Council Member Alejandra Salinas, who sponsored the ordinance, has argued that similar requirements in other cities have not necessarily harmed housing affordability. Salinas' office has also been distributing portable air-conditioning units to eligible Houston residents, including seniors, low-income households, disabled veterans and people with disabilities.

What Landlords Should Watch Next

The 120-day compliance window gives property owners time to review their portfolios and identify units that need new equipment or repairs. Owners should also pay attention to how the Houston Health Department implements inspections and enforcement, particularly as the city continues expanding its oversight of apartment conditions. Houston City Council has already adopted additional inspection requirements aimed at high-risk apartment properties. For multifamily owners, the new air-conditioning rule adds another compliance item to property operations. For renters, it establishes a citywide baseline that every rental must provide a working way to cool the unit during Houston's extreme heat.