How cool to set the AC to?

[JamesTay]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? California

I rent an upstairs room in a house in California. Low humidity 0-10%. Temperatures range from 85-110 during summer.

There are separate AC units for the upstairs and downstairs. The upstairs unit is set to keep it at 86 F. The downstairs unit, I just noticed today, is set to be at 78 F. I'm the only one who uses the upstairs during the day, and it irritates me to realize these people have been enjoying wonderfully cooled rooms while I spend all day sweating and cooking upstairs. (My blood pressure is somewhat high, which I've been told keeps me feeling hot, as well.)

The question is: Is it reasonable for me to demand the upstairs unit to be kept only 2 degrees higher than the downstairs, which would be 80 F in this case? It feels extremely unfair for them to keep my room hot while they enjoy cooled rooms, but it may be within their rights?

Additional info: Utilities are included in the static price of my rent. I suspect this is one of the reasons they are indifferent to my comfort, since I wouldn't be paying more for the extra use of ac.

I work out of this room, conducting my business online, so I tend to spend the entire day in here. This is why my concerns over my own comfort are more than usual.

Thank you for any help, moral, legal, or otherwise, you can provide.
James

 

[Silverplum]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? California

I rent an upstairs room in a house in California. Low humidity 0-10%. Temperatures range from 85-110 during summer.

There are separate AC units for the upstairs and downstairs. The upstairs unit is set to keep it at 86 F. The downstairs unit, I just noticed today, is set to be at 78 F. I'm the only one who uses the upstairs during the day, and it irritates me to realize these people have been enjoying wonderfully cooled rooms while I spend all day sweating and cooking upstairs. (My blood pressure is somewhat high, which I've been told keeps me feeling hot, as well.)

The question is: Is it reasonable for me to demand the upstairs unit to be kept only 2 degrees higher than the downstairs, which would be 80 F in this case? It feels extremely unfair for them to keep my room hot while they enjoy cooled rooms, but it may be within their rights?

Additional info: Utilities are included in the static price of my rent. I suspect this is one of the reasons they are indifferent to my comfort, since I wouldn't be paying more for the extra use of ac.

I work out of this room, conducting my business online, so I tend to spend the entire day in here. This is why my concerns over my own comfort are more than usual.

Thank you for any help, moral, legal, or otherwise, you can provide.
James

Did you ask them to change it, did you change it, and what happened next?

I have thoughts I'm holding.

 

[BL]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? California

I rent an upstairs room in a house in California. Low humidity 0-10%. Temperatures range from 85-110 during summer.

There are separate AC units for the upstairs and downstairs. The upstairs unit is set to keep it at 86 F. The downstairs unit, I just noticed today, is set to be at 78 F. I'm the only one who uses the upstairs during the day, and it irritates me to realize these people have been enjoying wonderfully cooled rooms while I spend all day sweating and cooking upstairs. (My blood pressure is somewhat high, which I've been told keeps me feeling hot, as well.)

The question is: Is it reasonable for me to demand the upstairs unit to be kept only 2 degrees higher than the downstairs, which would be 80 F in this case? It feels extremely unfair for them to keep my room hot while they enjoy cooled rooms, but it may be within their rights?

Additional info: Utilities are included in the static price of my rent. I suspect this is one of the reasons they are indifferent to my comfort, since I wouldn't be paying more for the extra use of ac.

I work out of this room, conducting my business online, so I tend to spend the entire day in here. This is why my concerns over my own comfort are more than usual.

Thank you for any help, moral, legal, or otherwise, you can provide.
James

Have you ask the landord to set it lower at 78%'s ?

Do you have a lease or a rental wriiten agreement ? If so what does it state about a/c for you?

 

[tranquility]

The warranty of habitability can often require (now by statute) heating in a unit. In a place where the temperatures get unreasonably high, it is conceivable it could require air conditioning as well. I know the Legislature put out a bill last summer on this issue to make it statutory, but I do not believe it passed.

That being said, you do have air conditioning. The key would be if the temperature it is set at is dangerous, not as to if it is comfortable. I am uncertain as to if your specific needs would affect that warranty. All that being said, I do not think "fair" has anything to do with it. The key is if the unit is habitable. Do you really want a court fight over this issue? To me, 86 is a bit high, but I don't know how a court would find it.

As the others have said, talk to your landlord. Don't go by "fair". Just often mention how it is uninhabitable when it gets so hot--especially with your high blood pressure. Wouldn't it be a reasonable accommodation to your request to just lower the temperature a bit? Use all those words. If he is smart, he will work with you.

 

[JamesTay]

I haven't asked yet. I'm trying to make sure I've planned ahead and know what to say and do before approaching the subject. I've never touched it on my own, as I prefer to keep things peaceful and not give any reasons for them to become unhappy. I thank you all for the information so far.

Edit: Oh and in reply to what someone else asked, no written/rental agreements. It was their first time renting a room, so I decided to just go with the flow and do things easily, pay their price, and live in peace. We actually get along fairly well, I often dinner with them, etc. I just don't want to seem like I'm asking too much in this matter, if keeping the ac set to 86 is considered reasonable. (The last place I was in had no a/c at all, one of the reasons I left there)

 

[BL]

I haven't asked yet. I'm trying to make sure I've planned ahead and know what to say and do before approaching the subject. I've never touched it on my own, as I prefer to keep things peaceful and not give any reasons for them to become unhappy. I thank you all for the information so far.

Answer my Q's please about lease or rental agreement . If a/c iincluded you should have a right to cooler temps.

Don't worry about rocking the boat,you pay for it.