Air Conditioning
Arizona law, A.R.S. § 33-1364, states that a landlord is required to supply access to:
- Running water (with a water heater),
- Gas and/or electric services,
- Heating unit, and
- Air conditioner or swamp cooling unit.
Can I stop paying rent while the air conditioner is not working?
Landlord/Tenant Options
If the tenant requests that their air conditioner be fixed, but the landlord delays fixing the unit, ignores the request, or refuses to fix the problem, the tenant may give the landlord a formal, written notice. This notice provides the landlord with a specific timeline for repair and informs the landlord of a tenant’s course of action.
Under Arizona law (A.R.S. § 33-1361), a tenant who provides written, formal notice to their landlord may:
1. Purchase Fans, a Portable Air Conditioning Unit, or Window Cooling Unit and Deduct the Reasonable Cost from the Rental Payment. A.R.S. § 33-1364(A)(1)
2. Obtain Substitute Housing Until Air Conditioning is Restored and Deduct the Cost from the Rental Payment. A.R.S. § 33- 1364(A)(3)
A.R.S. § 33-1371(C)
3. Hire Someone to Fix the Air Conditioner and Deduct Cost from the Rental Payment. A.R.S. §§ 33-1324, 1363(A)
4. Terminate the Rental Agreement and Move Out. A.R.S. §§ 33-1324 and A.R.S. §§ 33-1361(a)
5. File a Lawsuit A.R.S. § 33-1361(B)