Air conditioning has historically been considered an optional upgrade or the tenant's responsibility in New York City. However, with the enactment of the "Cool Homes For All" law (Intro 994-2024), landlords are now responsible for providing and installing air conditioning when formally requested by residents.
The regulations redefine habitability standards for rented properties by incorporating access to cooling as an enforceable right. So much so that, from 2030 onwards, landlords will be required to guarantee air conditioning to cope with periods of extreme heat.
Maximum temperature
Intro 994-2024 establishes that apartments must have systems capable of maintaining a maximum indoor temperature of 78°F (25.5°C) in bedrooms during the warmer months. This standard is not automatically enforced, but rather operates on a voluntary basis through tenant requests, as highlighted in a publication by the newspaper La Nación.
Scope of the law
The law covers most private residential buildings in the city, with specific provisions for those with central cooling systems. In those cases, the owner must ensure that the system functions correctly throughout the entire cooling season.
According to the New York City Environment and Health Data Portal, more than 500 people die each year from causes linked to high temperatures.
The common denominator in most cases is the absence of refrigeration systems in the home, a situation that disproportionately affects vulnerable communities and low-income households.
Implementation timeline and key dates
Although the law has already been enacted, its implementation will be gradual. The timeline aims to give both property owners and public agencies time to adapt infrastructure, establish technical regulations, and secure financing mechanisms.
- Official enactment: The measure came into effect on January 17, 2026, following its approval by the City Council in December 2025, after then-Mayor Eric Adams failed to sign or veto it within the 30-day deadline.
- Application start date: March 1, 2028 is the date on which tenants can formally begin making their choice to request an air conditioning system from their landlords.
- Mandatory compliance: From June 1, 2030, all owners of buildings covered by the law must have installed and functioning the cooling systems requested by their tenants.
What happens if the owner does not provide a cooling system?
The regulations assign building owners the responsibility for covering the cost of the equipment and its installation. However, they do not uniformly define who must pay for the electricity: this issue must be expressly stated in rental agreements starting in 2028.
Failure to comply is considered a serious violation under the city's housing control system. Not providing air conditioning when required will be classified as a Class C violation, the most severe category, reserved for situations deemed immediately dangerous. In such cases, the landlord will have a maximum of 14 days to rectify the deficiency.
The law also provides for mandatory annual inspections from 2031, with the aim of verifying that the installed systems are functioning properly.
How the relationship between tenants and rents is changing
The economic impact of the law will vary depending on the type of housing. In apartments with regulated rents, the installation of new systems may result in adjustments permitted by state regulations, always with the tenant's prior consent. In these cases, the Department of Housing Preservation and Development must clearly inform tenants of any potential increase.
In the open rental market, associated costs are expected to be reflected in the overall rent. This is in addition to the monthly electricity bill, which will depend on usage and the energy efficiency of the installed equipment. The city announced that it will establish minimum standards to prevent excessive consumption.
Source: La Nación.
Recommended readings:
- New York passed a law that transfers the commission of rental property owners to the landlords
- Study reveals that in New York, they charge almost a thousand dollars more for housing rentals
- The fines that will be paid by those who violate the regulations implemented in New York for the use of short-term rental platforms
