Houston council to consider ordinance that closes air conditioning loophole in rentals | Heights – River Oaks – Montrose

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Called the Right to Air Conditioning ordinance, the measure was proposed by council member Alejandra Salinas, who said that while the majority of landlords already provide air conditioning, there are still thousands of renters who live without it.

“In a Houston summer, working AC cannot continue to be a luxury,” Salinas said. “Extreme heat disproportionately impacts Black and Latino neighborhoods, and no tenant should be left without reliable cooling. This ordinance makes working air conditioning a basic health and safety standard because every Houston renter deserves a safe place to live.”

As Houston experiences more frequent extreme heat, renters without adequate cooling face potentially dangerous living conditions and serious health risks, especially seniors, young children and residents with disabilities, Salinas said.