Apartment Air Conditioner- Not allowed according to lease :(

Well I should have read my lease more closely. Air conditioners are not allowed according to my lease. It's been 31-34 degree's the last couple of days and the window fans just aren't cutting it when it comes to cooling. I forgot how hot Fredericton, New Brunswick can get in the summer

I wish I had noticed this clause when we signed the lease. I would love to have one of those little portable air conditioners right now, it's so hot :(. I probably would not have rented here if I had known about that clause. Sad but true, it just gets so hot. The window fan just isn't cooling the place down at all.

Any ideas on why air conditioners would be banned?

Keep in mind that I pay for electricity, and the building was built in 1984.

I can understand the window kind as they can look ugly and can be dangerous if not installed properly. I don't understand banning all air conditioners, as the portable kind are not much louder than a box fan (which are allowed) and are barely noticeable from the outside.

I've looked outside and I don't see any window air conditioners.

Do you think I could make a good case to be allowed a portable air conditioner? I would just like to use it during some of the really hot parts of the day. The poor cats are really minding the heat. The apartment heats up to about 25 degree's during the day. I've tried keeping everything shut and the blinds down, it makes it slightly cooler but not much.

-you could barely notice a portable one from the outside of the building
-installation would not cause any damage to the apartment
-I pay for electricity so it wouldn't have an effect on cost for the building owner
-they are no louder than a box fan which are allowed
-they dehumidify the air as well, so decreased chances of mold within the apartment

i dont really think they can stop you from getting one or even put it in a lease.... as not having one could create health problems... ( asthma etc....) im not sure what a portable one is but couldnt you get the ones where you just put a tube in your window? i dont think they'de notice.

I think your best bet would be to ask the landlord and tenant act if your landlord can even do this.

http://www.ltb.gov.on.ca/en/About_Us/STEL02_111278.html

Yeah the portable one is the kind that just requires a tube in the window. I am just scared if I make that investment of at least $300, I don't want to then get a notice that I have violated my lease and be out the money spent on the then unuseable air conditioner.

Hon, regardless of whether you signed it or not, I'd call the landlord and tenant people and ask if that constitutes "inhumane" treatment of their tenants! I think it's reprehensible for a landlord to restrict them! I bet they have one in their home!!!
UGH! Things like this just drive me batty!!
Good luck!!!

Do you think it has anything to do with security? Would the a/c unit make your apartment more vulnerable to crooks? I've never used one of these before, is there any damage that could be caused to the building? If hardly seems fair to make you suffer in this heat, especially if you are paying for the electricity.

It was not mentionned in my lease...I never heard of a detail like this...my building is at leat 50 years hold...everybody have ac...in the window..but I put an ac portable one because the other kind was not fitting due to the old windows...they are greedy I am the only side they did not redid the window...so no this is not dangerous and this lease is....so ridiculous..excuse me for the word....I would wrothe down a letter with yours argue you made and they will understand...or they are not humans...you cannot prohibit these,,,imagine for the breath problem and old person....I cannot believe the owner said that in the lease...you have the right to have pets why not that,,,thats not making any dommage or so..........


And you will put down the installation yourself and the payment...so that not represente trouble for theirs...

I can tell you last summer...I dont know how I survive ..at 2 floors...the container for pick off the water with the desumidificator is full because it was 37 with humidex today in QC!!!

The installation is the same thing as a dryer...the dryer is not dangerous when the air is evacuated properly...

Even my cats are beside the ac right now lol!!!!They benefit too:)

Are you 100% sure that is what they mean? As an in the window one is also considered portable, as it can be moved around. I highly doubt anyone is going to consider the unit you are talking about as a lease violation.

The wording is pretty clear:
21. Except where provided by the landlord, the Tenants may not use air conditioning units, dishwashers or washing/drying machines in the individual apartments.

Outside of the standard lease form, there are 25 additional rules. My own fault for not reading all the rules, it's going to be a mighty hot summer though.

As for it being a security issue, I have a large wooden stick that i keep in each window so that they can only be slid open about four inches at the most when I am not here. I'm on the 7th floor.

I am going to go to the super and ask if it's possible to have a non-window style air conditioner like this type: http://www.walmart.ca/en/ip/haier-portable-air-conditioner-8000-btu/141937?trail=&fromPLP=true&ancestorID=&searchStrin g=&moduleName=Air+Conditioners&startSearch=&fromSe archBox=&addFacet=

Of course, ask and get it in writing if he lets you.

Just so you know, the type of the one you left the link for still needs to be vented -
Read the reviews and the explanations here
http://www.amazon.ca/Haier-Portable-.../dp/B0037UVHZM

Also realize that the BTUs of a portable like that don't have the same cooling effect of the ones with the same number in a window one.
If you plan on leaving it on all day without you home, that may not work, because sometimes they have to be emptied of water every few hours.

Good luck!

whenever your lease is over , i would get the hell out
i'm in toronto and it's 10x worse here for the heat and humidity
i live in an apt with a window a/c even that doesn't help much
i would die without ac
i tried a portable a/c before, doesn't work as good!!!!

Thanks for the link. I thought that there wasn't a bucket to empty :(. Looks like the portable units have not improved over the years. I used to have one years ago, but I found the bucket was a complete pain, it needed to be emptied every two hours.

You bet your butt I would have an ac in anyway!
They can't force you to be uncomfortable and possible suffer heatstroke!

Whats the worse that can happen? They take you to court? I'm sure any judge would laugh in their face for trying to enforce such a rule, in fact I bet it's illegal for them to tell you you can't have one! I'm gonna go look it up!
If you pay your own hydro they can't say sh*t in my opinion!

Do you have children? Because if I didn't have an ac I'm pretty sure it's close to being child abuse to force a child to sweat!
Im so mad for you!!! Urrrgh!!!

For the container....In mine with the plastic thing..I put a large bottle so I dont have to empty it every 2 hours lol...but Natalka...I like your post...bookmarked for me...a lot of things I was not aware of...but I am still happy to have freshness with the one used I bought!!!

i could kind of understand if your Hydro was included in the rent...but if you're paying your own seperate Hydro...I really can't think of a reason for them to not allow AC.

thank God my rent includes hydro, even if it didn't .... i would still have my a/c on!
some things you can't live without.

I just talked to the super. I can have an air conditioner. I am however responsible for any damage that occurs. Needless to say I am going to take time stamped pics of the window before I put it in. Just to find the right model for the right price.

Awesome. Good luck and I hope your place cools down super quick!

That's great, matrix!

Whew! Good for you!! Those pics will also be useful if your super ever accuses you of any damage...

What about the Dyson Air Multiplier? It can be used in a room and there is no need for the window? Not sure how pets would be kept away from trying to jump through the ring but...
If a store where you have a loyalty card or points offer on a sale weekend that covers such appliances, that is when you'd move on a purchase.

those things are like $300 plus...up to like $500.... and its a fan.

Essentially the same as a $20 fan. No cooling effect whatsoever.

I got my A/C window unit for less than one of those puppies- And my apartment is nice and cool!

Glad you talked it out and can get one in!

I am worried this summer as my landlord said something about charging me extra for the A.C?! but he never charged me last summer. Instead of hijacking this thread i should just make my own thread ranting about this@! WOOO!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ciel

What about the Dyson Air Multiplier? It can be used in a room and there is no need for the window? Not sure how pets would be kept away from trying to jump through the ring but...
If a store where you have a loyalty card or points offer on a sale weekend that covers such appliances, that is when you'd move on a purchase.

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In case anyone in Ontario is interested in a Dyson 10" Air Multiplier Fan, the Aug24-30 Future Shop flyer (page 29) shows it for $279 (a saving of $100). Item is final clearance, limited quantities and no rainchecks. $100 saving also applies to all other Air Multiplier models.

Sears has the same offer too on the 10" model.
http://www.sears.ca/catalog/dyson/100000148#fans

I guess i am late with this tip but it's something to think about for next year!
I don't like a/c so i had to find another solution to keep my house cool and the one thing that worked better than anything was hanging blinds over the windows on the OUTSIDE. This prevents the sun from hitting the window which creates most of the heat in the house.
At first i used jute cloth but it does look kind of ratty after a while, then i got lucky and at a garage sale i found RV blinds which were made for the outside of RV's. Outdoor blinds come in a variety of colors so they look ok on a house and stand up to weather.
People often remark at how cool my house is in summer and it does feel like i have a/c.. and it's cheap and green:)