Calls to change Tennessee law for landlords to provide air conditioning

[00:00:00]New tonight, calls for change from some overheated renters. Tennessee law does not require landlords to provide air conditioning, but they think it should.

[00:00:09]Now, this call comes from residents at Belleview West Apartments, uh, who say that management there is refusing to fix AC issues, and there are other renters across the state who are facing this very same issue. Fox 17 News Karen Agular is live tonight near the steps of the state capital with more on this push.

[00:00:29]Scott, right now Tennessee law requires heat for renters but not AC. Residents tell me both heat and AC is crucial and they want the law to reflect that as experts say extreme heat is the deadliest weather hazard. Belleview West claims to be a perfect home offering comfort. Resident Amber O'Neal tells me it's anything but.

[00:00:51]>> This feel exactly like a 24. I think yesterday my meter read 85 degrees in my house yesterday and we have two fans and um just literally dripping sweat.

[00:00:59]>> A feeling echoed by Relan Burham.

[00:01:01]>> It's just too hot. It's too hot >> and day.

[00:01:04]>> I'm sweating all the time.

[00:01:06]>> The problem no AC.

[00:01:07]>> Nobody's come there for days, weeks. Now we're working on two months.

[00:01:11]>> Bellev West management ignored Fox 17 News and these residents until our story aired Tuesday night saying they are working to resolve remaining issues as quickly as possible. A claim residents don't buy. Valv West is just one of some apartment complexes across the state with AC issues. This includes Washington Square and White House. Alyssa Dishman, her husband, and three kids live there.

[00:01:34]>> It's extremely frustrating. It feels like they don't care.

[00:01:38]>> Dishman tells me management hasn't fixed her AC since the end of May.

[00:01:41]>> There's been days that even with the window units, it's too hot and we've had to go like stay with friends.

[00:01:46]>> Fox 17 News emailed Washington Square management. No response. But O'Neal and Dishman's lease does not include fixing AC in a timely manner. O'Neal's lease reading air conditioning problems are not emergencies, but it is an emergency for those suffering in the heat. Bennett Wills is an attorney.

[00:02:04]>> If there's a heat wave, then the tenant does have a good argument uh that the health and safety of the property um is in jeopardy. uh giving them um a good argument with uh the general sessions court to um terminate their lease.

[00:02:21]>> Wills tells me the real problem is Tennessee law requires heat but not air conditioning.

[00:02:25]>> I think um the law in that regard should catch up.

[00:02:29]>> A problem O'Neal and Dishman want lawmakers to solve.

[00:02:32]>> I would like to see the laws changed and that that they understand that you know that we're suffering. It's literally a danger to your health.

[00:02:41]The question is, will lawmakers help those without AC? We'll let you know if that happens, and we'll keep on this issue until these residents hopefully can get some relief. Reporting live in front of the capital, Karen Agalar, Fox 17 News, your code red station.

[00:02:57]>> Karen, thank you. Well, that brings us to our question of the day, and that is, should Tennessee law require landlords like the ones we just discussed to provide air conditioning? And of the respondents thus far, 64% say yes, we think the law should require that. But at the same time, there is a full 36% of people responding to our poll say, we don't think so. That's more than a third. If you'd like to weigh in and change the balance of power here with the numbers, just scan the QR code on the right hand side of your screen.

[00:03:27]It'll take you to fox 17.com where you can vote and we'll take another look at these results tonight on Fox 17 News at 9:00.

[00:03:35]Now, when it comes to requiring tenants to provide AC, get this. Only three states around the country, Arizona, Florida, and Nevada, right now have laws on the books. All the rest of the states, 47 of them, including Tennessee, leave that sort of thing up to cities and or counties.