Imagine this. You walk into your rental home or apartment, and the cool air you were expecting doesn’t arrive. You’re hit with warm, humid air. When your rental’s AC system fails, what are a landlord’s responsibilities? The reality is that unless there’s something about AC maintenance and repair in your lease, your landlord might not have to do anything.

It could be the other way around. Money’s tight and your renters don’t always pay on time, which adds to your financial strain as a landlord. You have renters complaining that the AC system isn’t working right. Do you need to replace it immediately? What are your obligations as a landlord?

Understanding Florida Laws Regarding AC in Rental Properties

Florida doesn’t have specific laws requiring landlords to install and maintain central AC in rental apartments or homes. While you’d hope a landlord would, there are no specific laws covering AC units in rental homes.

But, the City of Miami does have laws in place that could be construed as covering Acs. Landlords are prohibited per Section 10-63 from maintaining a “blighted home.” In this case, a blighted home is defined as one that has:

• Broken or damaged doors, roofs, and windows that create hazards or encourage break-ins and trespassing.
• Is considered a public nuisance.
• Inadequate maintenance that impacts the value of neighboring homes and apartments.
• Deteriorated to the point it is structurally unsafe.
• Fails to meet minimum health and safety standards.

Legally, landlords must ensure that a rental home or apartment is structurally sound and has hot water, lighting, and plumbing. Meanwhile, laws state that tenants must “use and operate in a reasonable manner all electrical, plumbing, sanitary, heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and other facilities and appliances.” That’s the one time that air conditioning is mentioned in Florida Statutes.

Many experts believe that air conditioning in a Florida rental is required for a person’s health. Keeping air from being too humid and encouraging mold and mildew growth is important for one’s health and safety. Plus, the law mentions air conditioning as something that tenants have to use correctly, so it could be assumed that rentals should have AC for that reason.

It’s also in a landlord’s best interests to keep central AC units maintained and inspected to prevent the growth of black mold, which could create costly cleaning bills and remodeling costs. Tearing out all sheetrock and insulation because of black mold, which is a health risk, can be much higher than an AC system replacement. 

According to Angi, mold remediation in 2023 ranges from $500 for a basement, crawlspace, or bathroom up to $30,000 for a whole house. If mold is in an HVAC system, including the ducts, it can drive up the costs. Prices depend on the amount of mold, the location, and the size of the home. Plus, there’s the fee for the initial inspection of the home that can be hundreds more. And, if measures aren’t taken to get excess humidity out of a home, the mold may return. Compare that to repairs or replacement of an AC system, and it’s often a wiser move to replace an older AC.

Advancements in AC Over the Years

When your rental’s AC system is 10, 15, or even 20 years old, it’s time to replace it. AC systems have advanced a lot in the past 10 years. While you might have to spend money replacing a system, the savings in energy costs quickly make up for it.

If you take an air conditioner from 1990 and compare it to an AC model today, you’ll find today’s AC system uses about half the energy of its predecessor. Energy savings are one of the benefits. They also release less carbon dioxide than they used to, which is important as it reduces greenhouse gas emissions.

The U.S. Energy Department’s Emerging Technologies Program is currently researching a non-vapor compression system. If this becomes the next big advancement in air conditioning, it can reduce energy consumption by up to 50%, which will slash bills even more. 

What is a non-vapor compression system? It helps to understand how a current AC system works. 

• Refrigerant travels between the evaporator inside the home and the compressor and condenser outside the home.
• Warm, humid air within the home travels into ducts and passes over the evaporator coils where the coolant transitions from a liquid to a gas form.
• As that heat is absorbed, the coolant moves outside to the compressor and condenser where the heat is released outside, and the gas returns to a liquid. 

This cycle continues to draw heat from the home, release it outside, travel over the evaporator drawing heat, and release the cold air to the fan that blows it through the ducts and into the home. However, this method of cooling requires refrigerants that have changed over time but are still harmful to the environment.

Non-vapor compression systems trade the coolant for water. It’s less expensive, non-toxic, and it’s not flammable. Using radiative panels, heat transfer takes place, which is the other main component of a non-vapor compression system.

What this means for landlords is that systems are becoming safer for the environment and less costly to operate. Sure, it does cost money to buy a new central AC system and have it installed by a professional Miami AC technician, but an efficient, modern system qualifies you for tax incentives and instant rebates and improves the value of your rental properties. You’ll have happier tenants, and you no longer have to worry about mold, mildew, or other issues related to high humidity levels inside a home.

Is It Time for a New Central AC System?

How do you know if you need a new AC system in your rental or if repairs are needed? The best option is to talk to a Miami AC expert. All Year Cooling offers honest feedback on the health of your current AC system and whether you’re better off replacing the system or if repairs can buy you a little time.

Most AC systems in Miami get year-round use, which shortens their lifespan. While an AC system in the north may last 20 years with proper maintenance, it’s not unheard of to have a system that only lasts 10 years in Miami. And, at this point, the AC system is using more electricity than newer units, so your electricity bills decrease with the installation of a new AC.

With current federal tax incentives and instant rebates from FPL, there’s never been a better time to replace an older central AC system and have a new, energy-efficient system installed. FPL offers a $150 instant rebate when you choose an FPL Participating Independent Contractor, and energy-efficient improvements qualify you for federal tax credits of up to $3,200. An AC replacement practically pays for itself.

You’ll be happier with a cool, comfortable home environment, which assures both renters and landlords that health risks like black mold won’t happen. Reach All Year Cooling through live chat, email, or phone to schedule an assessment of your rental property and current AC system.