Dh and i are renting an older style house, double brick with air con in the lounge room. It dosn't usually cool the whole house as it's not powerful enough. It's just a sit in the window one.

OUr problem is, the bedroom (main and sometimes the girls) gets so hot that we have 3 fans going and are still sweating. It's gotten to the point that we've dragged mattreses into the loungeroom and slept under the air con.

We live in Sydney south so it's not like we are out west where they really feel the heat.

Last night it was so hot that non of us in the house got a good rest.

I want to call the real estate and ask about getting shutters or another air con put in.

Do i have a right to ask for this? I mean we just want something to help with the heat in the room.

We put a thermometor in the room and it measures 39* in the room. It has blinds and curtains but thats not helping, it's like a sauna.

Should i ask? I feel awful but we can't live like this anymore, It's to hot and we need something done. The rooms get the afternoon midday sun, and the temp just sky rockets.

Anyone? Do i have a right to ask for something to be done?

EM
DD1 2yrs 11mths
DD2 7 weeks

Sad thing is we do keep the windows curtains and blinds shut for that reason and it does not help


EM (avoiding going to bed due to the hot room lol)

I think it dpends on how long you ahve been renting and the amount of rent you pay.

Here were we are renting we could not ask as our rent is very cheap and we could afford to buy a air con and put it in another window. There is no way on earth they would agree. In fact one of the outside blinds came off the window and I asked for it to be put back and they said well do it later. They never have.

My friend on the other hand asked for air con in her house a few months back and the owner of the house said no way as the owner didn't want to waste money as he was intending to sell the house when her lease was up.
She was only one a six month lease and the owner had already fixed a heap of things that she complained about.

If your nice enough tenants (and dont complain much) and pay your rent on time, I would be asking. Worse case he/she says no.

If it was my rental property I would be saying yes and working out something as I know it helps keep good tenants. (and helps with them looking after the hosue)


Nic

Copyright © 2005 Nicbic All Rights Reserved. Information is based on the best available resources. Opinions reflect judgment at the time and are subject to change.

A house we previously rented was like a sauna, the weather was cooler outside!
We wrote to the Real Estate asking if the owner would consider putting in an air conditioner and we didnt mind paying extra rent. They said no because they were too busy renovating their property to put an air con into our place or do any repairs.

All you can do is ask the RE. You might have a understanding owner who would be hato do this.

You can always ask... woste thing the person can say is no.

I can't see how I ever lived without aircon! But I am sydney west. it gets HOT!

good luck,

- Paul


<img src="http://members.iinet.com.au/~hutchisn/images/kyra/paul_sig.gif"><p><a href="http://members.iinet.net.au/~hutchisn/kyra/kyra.htm">Kyra's Pics</a>

Sounds like your house is just like ours. We have the only A/C in the family room and it stopped working last year and it is also the window type. Every other room in the house is like a furness even with all the fans on. We have just been sent our new lease agreement for what will be our 3 rd year, and we are not game enough to ask them to either fix or replace the old A/C. Although I think from memory a landlord is responsible for fixing any that was initally in the house and working at the time a lease was taken up and tenant didn't break.
Perhaps you might have to see about buying another window type of A/C yourself and then taking it with you when you leave. That is what we are planning on doing, but of course by the time we have the money, winter will be here..lol
No harm in asking your landlord anyway I guess,

Good luck
kit4keeps

EDD 06/06/05

As an owner of investment properties, i would agree with the suggestions that you buy the portable aircon. With our investment properties, we pretty rent them on a -as are- basis, it is not that we dont care about the tenets its just that not every house has air-con and people live with it. RE Owners dont have a duty of care, people choose to rent the house as it is. Added parts are at owners discression.

I know that sounds harsh, but I thought that a different perspective (from an owners view) would provide a balance.



Mich
Conor monster 23/6/00
Ella monkey 2/12/02

I'd say give it a go, you are certainly within your rights to ask, as someone already said, the worst he can do is say no.

If he's a clever landlord, he'll know that it is a wise investment to keep your tenants happy because they're likely to stay there longer and keep the rent flowing.

Also, something like air conditioning is likely to add value to the property and make it more attractive to future renters.

There was zero insulation in the roof of the house we rent, and we spent a fortune on firewood in winter, so we asked the landlord to put some insulation in the roof, and he did. Just explain your situation, also let them know you have a new baby etc.

Good luck and I hope you get your air conditioning.

[size=1]
JJ (28) & DH (55)
Snufflebear (3 3/4) &
Grunterette (7 months)
TTC #3 - sort of...

The in-window a/c's from my limited understanding can be put in and taken out pretty easily without damaging the permanent fixtures, so maybe installing your own (with landlord's permission) is an option?

Apparently the sun on 1 square metre of glass is the equivalent of a 2-bar heater, so the best thing to do is stop the sun hitting the windows in the first place. Perhaps an awning? Maybe if the LL won't stump up for an a/c, they might for an awning? We had awnings on our NW facing living room and they made a huge difference.


Janet & Justin

...and our two gorgeous girls...

Anna Linden - 27 Jan 2003
Grace Genevieve - 4 Jan 2005
[img]http://tinyurl.com/675tm[/img]

I think you might have better luck if you asked for it, and then said you will be willing to pay $x extra per week.

As previous posters have said, you took the place with only one aircon (obviously not able to tell how hot the place got though). The most successful negotiations have a bit of give. Good luck.

Supes

Thanks for the advise from renters and owners. I don't want these people to have to go to a major expense as we do have cheap rent for the property we are in.

I am quiet happy for some old awnings to be put up to reflect the heat. Air con would be a bonus but i don't expect that. Even new heavey blinds, anything.

We have been here for 1yr now, and have always paid our rent on time and only ever asked them for one thing, and that was to get the stove fixed when it suddenly stopped working.

We have always accomadated them when wanting to send people here to do things to the yard, house etc. Thye are great landlords so i don't want to be to pushy.

Thanks again

Em
DD1 2yrs 11mths
DD2 7 weeks

You could do what we did. You could ask them to provide an air conditioning system, on the grounds that you organise/pay for the installation. We were lucky, as my father is liscensed to do this, so it cost us nothing. But generally installation of a split system reverse cycle air conditioner costs about $500.00. So if you can cough that up, it may help. An airconditioner increases the value of their investment, and is tax deductable for them.

Just a thought.

Good Luck.

You can ask but the landlord is under no obligation to provide you with one.

You get the property 'as is', I don't like your chances of getting another aircon installed unless your landlord is exceptionally nice or you front up the money (and even then, you won't be able to take it when you leave!)

I'd be more inclined to ask them to look into the insulation and proper blinds.

The landlords are only required to keep the property in a 'livable' condition...

But the worst they can do is say no...

Jess and Mathew

My Little Man, Mathew[br]

A lot of good points have been made in this thread. The following applies to me as well

One of my rental properties is a weatherboard home with no insulation so that = VERY HOT. Rent we advertised was considered on the "cheaper" side as a result. Tenants needs to expect that when an agreement is made to rent a property, not to expect any "enhancements". As stated previously, owners/landlords have an obligation to lease out a property so it is liveable condition.
Our tenant in this case called us and asked for a a/c. It up to the owner to decide whether they should install an a/c, as there could be many reasons they say no. On the other hand, they could say YES!!! - so just ask!
We decide to install a rev cycle split a/c as it would add value to our investment and make it more attractive to potential tenants to the future, as well as being tax deductible.


Kind Regards,

Twinklestar



DD1-4/12/01
DD2-8/9/03

We rent and have the same problem as you,so we asked the owners if it was Ok if we(at our expense) put ceiling fans in each bedroom,which they OK'ed right away.After all,they are getting something for nothing that way.
You can only ask,its worth a try All they can say is no.
FWIW ceiling fans work out cheapest for us as FIL is an electrician,so we only have to actually buy the fans/fittings.We werent quite prepared to spring for a split system in case we dont stay here longer than a year or two,and we have an evap cooler,but its does C#@p all.Hopefully the fans will help.

Most owners we have rented from have agreed to reasonable requests,sometimes at our expense, sometimes sharing the cost.

Good Luck


DD Kiaan 02/03/03

suprise mc feb 04

EDD 08/04/05

This message was edited by *sunshine* on Wednesday, 9 February 2005 @ 7:01 PM