Sometimes there are days when the heat becomes unbearable and it is sometimes worse indoors than it is outdoors. On days like these, putting a window air conditioner up can really help to cool down the temperature on your home. Many Oregon tenants have asked themselves this question: can landlords ban window air conditioners? To find the answer to question, the KATU Problem Solver decided to interview Oregon Landlord tenant attorney Timothy L. Murphy for his expert advice.
There are some landlords in the state of Oregon that forbid their tenants from using window air conditioners, but why? The tenant is the one who pays the cooling bill. Attorney Murphy shed light on the subject revealing that landlords do indeed have the right to prohibit window units in their contracts. In fact, he went even further to say that Oregon landlords are not required by law to have air conditioning in all of their rental units. The main reason that window air conditioners are sometimes banned is because of landlord liability. If a tenant improperly installs an air conditioner in their unit and it fall on someone and injures them, then the landlord could be held responsible for any damages. Another reason for this is that many landlords are trying to lower their energy costs and keep their building in tip top shape and sometimes those window units cause damage to the property.
So ultimately, if a tenant signs a contract that contains a condition regarding the prohibition of window air conditioning units, then they are not allowed to use them. In situations such as these, how can tenants keep their homes at a comfortable temperature when they don't have any air conditioning? KATU asked Attorney Murphy if he had any alternative suggestions to resolve this issue. He replied with three different options, the obvious one is that you can move to another building with a landlord who allows window units. However, before jumping ship you can put in a medical request with your landlord stating that the high temperatures in your unit are harmful to your health and the health of your family members. He said that you could also speak with your landlord and offer to pay for the renters' insurance in case the window unit was to cause any damage to the property.
This issue recently came up when tenant Amanda Heckel's young son suffered from heat exhaustion in their un-air conditioned apartment. To learn more on this breaking story, read the news article from KATU. If you have a similar problem with your landlord, or you are facing another type of dispute, please do not hesitate to bring your matter to Attorney Timothy S. Murphy here at the firm. Contact an Oregon landlord tenant lawyer from Timothy L. Murphy, Attorney at Law today to learn how he can help you.