Tenant installed window AC in utitlies furnished rental

[Cheryle Patterson]

I have owned a 16 furnished room (dorm style) rental property for 14 years and never had a tenant do this.  We rent the rooms for $395 per month and it includes power, water, sewer and garbage service. We keep the A/C set at 72% and our current tenants have never complained. I rented 2 rooms out last month and they immediately started demanding lower tempature. I have lowered the thermostat to 70 degrees and it is running all the time. IMO, it is freezing in there.  Now, one  of them installed a window AC in his room. I called and told him it had to go. He told me that there is nothing in the lease that says he can't have it and is refusing to remove it.  I told him my lease doesn't say that he can't park a car a garage in the living room but that doesn't give him permission to do it.  Says he will sue me if I file for eviction. Any ideas?

[John Underwood]

@Cheryle Patterson

I wasn't going to comment after reading all the posts. I agree that you will probably need to update your lease and grin and bear this tenant until their lease is up.

But then I had an idea that wouldn't violate your lease. What if you changed the breaker to that room to a smaller one that would power everything except maybe when a AC unit?

I looked up the FLA (Full Load Amps) of a typical window unit and it is 10 to 15Amps.

If your using larger than a 15Amp breaker, then change it to a 15A. If your using a 15A Circuit Breaker change it to a 10A.

Then every time his AC kicks on the breaker will likely trip and you will have to take your sweet time to reset it.

Then you can say your electrical system must not be able to handle the extra demand from the AC unit (which would be true). If it turns off power to some other rooms then they will be yelling at him every time this happens.

Do you offer free WIFI? If yes and its not in lease that you provide it, then change the password and give the new password to everyone but him.

See a pattern here?

Just don't violate your lease with him.

Have fun!