Providing heat for tenant before heaters are turned on.

[Megan L Uptain]

I have a tenant here at the apartment complex I manage, I am not the owner, I am just the landlord, we will be turning heaters on on October 31st, which we do every year, and according to my boss, New Mexico laws state heat needs to be provided by the landlord from October 31st until May 31st. Tenant is stating we need to provide her with a space heater until we get the heaters switched on, and that it is our responsibility, and she is going to refuse to pay rent.  My question is do we need to provide heat before we have actually turned the heaters on, for the whole property? 

Thank you for your time. 

[Theresa Harris]

I agree with Michele, plus it is Oct 26, so just turn it on if the weather is cold enough.  It should be based on the temperature, not the calendar.  You could have a warm fall or spring and heat won't be needed.