Tenant's A/C units in the winter months
My tenants have several window A/Cs that they have installed and leave in throughout the year. They have not insulated or even sealed the gaps around the units, and every winter they complain about being cold and ask me to turn the heat up (despite it being set to 78).
My question is: do I have a the right to insist that they a) remove the A/Cs in the winter or b) insulate around them? If B, should I purchase the foam and do it for them or is that intrusive / their job.

bklyn658
in General Discussion 6 years and 10 months ago
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bklyn658 | 6 years and 10 months ago
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Thanks everyone. I have asked them to remove the A/Cs.

slopefarm | 6 years and 10 months ago
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I wouldn’t bother to inspect. I would use the rider to bolster Bob’s advice. Don’t keep raising the heat. If they complain, ask if they have removed or insulated the A/C. If they say they haven’t, you can point ot the lease and say they are required to do so, etc.

yudashasom | 6 years and 10 months ago
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Sure, insulating the AC is easy – but I don’t trust tenants ability to do it right, or that they will even do it at all. You’d have to also go into the apartments and check if they insulated. Better to just say they must be removed. Most leases include language so no need for a special rider.

RobertGMarvin
in General Discussion 6 years and 10 months ago
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Insulating window AC units is SO very easy to do!

slopefarm | 6 years and 10 months ago
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And for next year add it as a rider to the lease that all window A/Cs must be removed or insulated during the heating season.

angelique.m.west | 6 years and 10 months ago
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No-permitz is right…It’s costing you no matter what. I’d send them all a note saying you are now requiring that all ACs be insulated so as not to waste energy and to ensure the apartments stay warm. You could give them 30 days to tackle it — it’s not that hard to do — and then say if they don’t do it you will send a handyman to do it and add the charge for that to their rent. You have to be firm and direct. You could also frame this as your effort to be a “green” landlord, so to speak, and if this place is in Brooklyn you will win them over because they will be wracked with guilt for being responsible for climate change.

yudashasom | 6 years and 10 months ago
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78?! Don’t be a pushover. Tell them to remove the air conditioners. It’s your building, your rules and your money that you are wasting. Even if the thermostat is set at 68 – heat is still going right out the window. Don’t try to be cool w/ your tenants – it never works.

bklyn658 | 6 years and 10 months ago
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That’s good advice, thanks Bob.

RobertGMarvin
in General Discussion 6 years and 10 months ago
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or C. Let them do whatever they want, maintain the legally required 68º in their apartment, and offer the age-old advise of landlords–tell them to wear a sweater 🙂