The Cooling Mandate: Battling Heatwaves in Rental Housing

Summers in New York City are unbearable for many renters without proper air conditioning. Heat stress is a leading climate-related killer, with low-income and minority communities being most affected. New legislation in major U.S. cities aims to impose maximum indoor temperatures in rental properties, but faces resistance from landlord lobbies.

Summers in New York City are unbearable for many residents like Anthony Gay, whose son's asthma worsens in the heat. A small, portable air conditioner barely provides relief in their Brooklyn apartment. Heat can be lethal; around 350 New Yorkers die prematurely each year due to extreme heat, as stated in the city's 2024 Heat-Related Mortality Report.

A lack of home air conditioning is the primary risk factor, with 12 percent of U.S. homes lacking any air conditioning in 2020. Low-income and minority communities are most affected, reveals a 2022 Boston University analysis. These groups are especially vulnerable as climate change intensifies heatwaves.

Across the U.S., a handful of localities have adopted laws imposing indoor temperature limits in rental housing. New York City, Los Angeles County, and Austin, Texas, are now proposing such measures, facing opposition from landlord groups concerned over upgrade costs. Mayor Eric Adams is committed to establishing indoor temperature policies by 2030, potentially aiding 750,000 renters without air conditioning.