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New Washington law makes air conditioning a tenant’s right (www.kuow.org)
submitted 3 months ago by to c/seattle@lemmy.world
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Previously, Washington’s rental laws didn’t have much guidance on new cooling units. Slatter said that landlords could refuse to let a tenant install one. The new law, by contrast, states that renters can now install a portable AC unit, as long as a landlord hasn’t explicitly written a ban into the lease.

The law, which went into effect in June, includes specific restrictions depending on the kinds of AC units a tenant is looking to install. For a window unit, here are the restrictions:

  • A tenant must give the landlord two days’ notice before installation.
  • The device cannot prevent a window accessible from the outside to be locked.
  • It cannot require excessive brackets that would damage the window frame warranty.
  • The device must be safely secured from falling out of the window.
  • The landlord’s insurance policy must allow window-mounted units to be installed.
  • Landlords can require inspection of window-mounted units after installation.
  • Fewer restrictions apply to other types of AC units, like floor-mounted devices and saddle-mounted units.
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[–] [S] 3 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 child)

I've rented from many landlords in this area and I've never had AC outlawed in the lease.

I also don't see why a landlord who has previously allowed AC units would suddenly decide to ban them because of this.

Historically, only about 30% of homes in the PNW ever had AC to begin with.

Edit: I'm just having a conversation with you about the norms here in the PNW that relate to this article.

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