Landlord wants to charge excessive amount for AC

[papillon]

I agree in finding out if you're allowed to have your own A/C in your unit, might be a high initial cost, but in the end alot cheaper for you. Mind you, if your hydro is included in your rent, then there might be a clause that you can't add un-necessary electric appliances in your unit (ie, A/C, washer, dryer, etc...)

I think the charge is for having your own a/c unit turned on, not 'renting' one from them. My building charges you just to have one of your own. I think we pay something close to $250 a season.

[curt81]

Where I'm at, hydro is included and it's $200 or $250 to use an air conditioner. I believe you have to use your own. Too expensive for myself, so I just bought a few fans instead. It's not great but I get by.

[ex0ticb3lla]

haha this post just reminded me that our building charges $150...we've been here 4 years and never once paid it (i completely forgot as they don't post a notice every year its just in the lease) and no one has ever asked...oops lol

[roseofblack25]

When I was looking at renting an apartment at the start of the year I asked about AC and I was told by one building that it would be $150 for the season for each unit and another building said $200 for each AC unit but they offered to break that up into monthly payments onto the rent.

I still think that $250 is a tad high but sadly if that's what they want to charge you they can. AC isn't a neccessity it's a "luxury" and if you don't want to pay the price you just don't have it. If it's something you need/want and will end up paying that amount maybe ask them if they could break it up over the months for you.

I don't understand charging for a/c. It's the same as saying that your heat is not a necessity in the winter that you can just suffer through the cold. It's no different then making someone suffer through the heat. I doubt you would use more hydro on an a/c than you would on heat in the winter. It's absolutely ridiculous that apartments charge insane amounts to use an a/c during the summer when you are not using heat.

[roseofblack25]

I also have to add they charge a ridiculous amount at my grandma's apartment for her two a/c units...I feel like it's such a rip off to force people to pay extra. If they are charging extra for a/c they should also be charging extra in the winter months for heat. I would be fine all summer without a/c because I love the heat but I feel for the elderly or anyone who can't take the heat who don't have the extra money to pay $63 on top of the $$$$ rent they pay...

[abbasgirl]

Yep. It's high. But I think what you're seeing is that they are trying to somehow recover some of the cost of rising hydro rates. They have a set limit on how much they can increase your rent. So if they are also covering your hydro, they are losing money.
I pay my own hydro, so if I want AC, I just have to pay a deposit to cover any damages to the window frame. When I first moved in I wondered if it might have been a better deal to go inclusive. But since I'm not paying for heat, hydro is still only around $30 per month. So I guess I'm getting a better deal after all.

[TaraF]

I don't understand charging for a/c. It's the same as saying that your heat is not a necessity in the winter that you can just suffer through the cold. It's no different then making someone suffer through the heat. I doubt you would use more hydro on an a/c than you would on heat in the winter. It's absolutely ridiculous that apartments charge insane amounts to use an a/c during the summer when you are not using heat.

That's a completely and fair argument but we all know what would happen if someone stepped in and said "well this isn't a luxury item it's a necessity", it just means that everyones rent would be increased each month to make up for it. And those that own their homes and pay their own utilities know how much their bill goes up in the summer time when they use an Air Conditioner so obviously if people in an apartment are using ACs as well the bills are going up and well someones gotta pay for that.

[greentires4me]

ya could buy a freaking AC unit for that much...well I bought one for like 80$ it was on sale at the beginning of the season then it went back to its original price of 200$

[nadiabreckon]

I think the charge is for having your own a/c unit turned on, not 'renting' one from them. My building charges you just to have one of your own. I think we pay something close to $250 a season.

Oh, gotcha!

[FallenPixels]

Yes, you have to buy an AC unit anyway, the landlord isn't providing it, they just charge for extra hydro and potential damage caused by the dripping water from the units

Ours is $100 a summer here, and hasn't gone up in 5 years but its in our contract stating that, they said we had to pay twice for the two units but the lease states $100 per summer for airconditioning not per unit so we have only ever paid $100

But if it isn't in your lease, it isn't mandated like heat in winter so they can pretty much charge what they like

[ashmaster]

250 is normal; because they have to take into account that not everyone has a energystar appliance, some people are using some really old air conditioners (which is really common if you have "sleeve airconditioners, because so few models are made) that gobble up electricity, so even if you have a energystar, you have to pay for a fraction of the displaced energy, they take the ammount used the year before, and thats what they base the current year on at most places; if everyone was to change their air conditioner to a newer one; then the ammount would likely go down/

[ashmaster]

That's a completely and fair argument but we all know what would happen if someone stepped in and said "well this isn't a luxury item it's a necessity", it just means that everyones rent would be increased each month to make up for it. And those that own their homes and pay their own utilities know how much their bill goes up in the summer time when they use an Air Conditioner so obviously if people in an apartment are using ACs as well the bills are going up and well someones gotta pay for that.

Heat isn't really a necessity either; you can suffer through it with only blankets and sweaters, I have done this before, its not pretty, but still not a nessicity; that being said, Air conditioning IS NOT A NESSICITY expecially if your higher up in an appartment; crack a window, buy a fan, it doesnt get THAT hot people..... if your hot shower or something, go to the local ymca... anything, comparing heating to air conditioning is laughable, you can always put on less clothing.

[FallenPixels]

Heat is legislated in Ontario though

[ninna]

I dunno. Seems kinda high, but at the same time, the cost of electricity has skyrocketed and air conditioners are notorious energy hogs, particularly the kind that hang out of a window. My personal hydro bill has gone up at least 30-40% from what it was last year with the HST and timed billing. It's a reality for me that I won't have an air conditioner because I'm not willing to pay for it. I'll suck it up and sweat off the pounds like I did last year. LOL

[recessionisnotfun]

Heat is not a necessity???? What? That's like saying food and water aren't either...wow!
Tell that to the ppl who have died from hypothermia.