News @lemmy.world Stopthatgirl7 @lemmy.world 5mo ago

'It's inhumane.' Despite how hot it is, Tennessee renters don't have a right to air conditioning

www.newschannel5.com 'It's inhumane.' Despite how hot it is, Tennessee renters don't have a right to air conditioning

Unless it's in the lease, nothing in Tennessee's Landlord-Tenant Act gives renters the right to air conditioning.

Despite how hot it is, landlords in Tennessee are not required to keep the air conditioning running.

In our changing climate, that probably comes as a surprise.

However, unless it's in the lease, nothing in Tennessee's Landlord-Tenant Act gives renters the right to air conditioning.

"I think it's unfair. It's inhumane to me because without air we can't live and breathe," said Anita Brown.

109

109 comments

i think it is disingenuous to represent that AC is a standard or required by law for a rental anywhere, at least in the US. I do find it shitty that the AC included with the unit is damaged, and land(slum)lord won't fix it, but again, unless it's in the lease there really is no requirement that the LL provide it in US. I think it is good to start a discussion on if AC for a rental should be the law, (edit: i also would strongly support this) but i doubt we will see that become the case, especially in southern states which probably would need it most.
people used to build houses that were designed in such a way where you didn't need air conditioning. In tropical country such as Vietnam where I live this is still the case. I have to wonder if the United States builds houses inefficiently on purpose.
I had jury duty once and the air conditioning was acting up. Judge announced we would all be moving to a different room as a result, which we did.

Guess it isn't a luxury when it's a judge's place of work.
We could just start building houses so they don't need them like they do in Hawaii. The well designed houses are designed in a way that allows maximum airflow when the windows are open because the price of running an ac there is astronomical.
anything to fuck over poor people...
I had a friend that was not allowed to run air conditioning in his flat. The landlord said the old wiring could not handle it. I said that all you needed was a decent UPS (they make these just for window units in India), but my friend just moved instead. 100+ F is too hot in a flat during Summer.
In the mean time instead of dying from heat exhaustion do an internet search for DIY AIR CONDITIONING and at least see what your options are. Good luck. Climate change is a thing by the way.
I feel like the habitability requirement might be governing on issues of extreme heat.
Most of the world can't afford air conditioning. We're talking something like five billion people or way more.
If this was Phoenix Arizona we wouldn't be having this conversation because all the tenants would already be dead. If there's a danger to tenants the answer seems obvious.
Right to Fry
something in common with prisoners! Hell yeah Tennessee!
AC is not going to change the presence of air, so I am not sure what the last quote is supposed to mean.
Most American take ever..

How is a 'right to AC' gonna solve climate change lol.
This is soon to pass as a bylaw in my city. I hope all the landlords have chapped asses over it. ALAB.
Why dont you build houses with insulation? Other countries handle it well without ACs
As an American you don't have a right to universal healthcare and you're worried about air conditioning?

109 comments