I listed my property as having airconditioning. My guest is complaining a lot about the heat and I’m wondering if I have to buy another unit or if there is a way to draw a boundary with this guest who is paying a low rate.
There are actually two A/C units in the apartment, which is a loft with one big room subdivided into two semi-enclosed sleeping areas. One A/C is the main unit for the space, it’s the top of the line, most expensive, biggest BTU size available. But on record breaking hot 95+ days in NY it struggles to keep the place really cool. It keeps it in the 80s.
The second unit is in the master loft bedroom and I told him it is only for use at night. It also works great and keeps that room quite cool. But the unit has started leaking water at night. I tried attaching a hose to a bucket but it is draining out of some other part of the machine. The guest says he is uncomfortable using that unit at night because he is worried the leak could cause a short or a fire while he is sleeping. My husband says that concern is not justified from a technical standpoint. He does not think that the leak is a reason to stop using the unit, much less replace it.
Do I have to replace the leaking unit?
I will be losing even more money on this guest if I do so.
Desperate to get a guest while I’m traveling, I rented the place for below market for a month. The rate just covers my rent, not even utilities. If I have to pay for another $200+ air conditioner, that would really suck.
Technically, the place is airconditioned even without this second unit. I have also given the guest 5 big fans.
My husband says the guy should have known that renting an artist loft in NYC during the summer at below market rate would not guarantee him 100% satisfaction with the temperature.
Who is in the right here?
This usually means that the unit is set at too low a temperature and the unit is freezing up due to the high humidity. You have to turn the unit off, placing towels underneath to catch the water that will drip, and begin again.
Your husband is not right unless you actually say in your listing “This unit gets very warm when the outside temperatures get about xxº with a humidity above xx%. The cost of our space reflects this reality.” Plus assuming any knowledge about a NY artist loft is assuming too much. Sounds like you didn’t charge enough.
You might be better off just saying that this is the best that you can do, and offer to call AirBNB to relocate him.
However, as you know, NYCity law only requires that when temperatures outside are below 55º that a landlord provide heat that is at 68º. There are no further requirements. So in your case, you have A/C but it isn’t meeting this guests needs. I would stress this with AirBNB so you don’t have to pay the difference between your home and the space that s/he moves to.
Prepare yourself for a negative review.
Temperatures in the 80s is not air conditioning in my book, I would not be able to sleep.
You have to understand that ABB will decide in the guests favor if he complains and wants a refund.
The oven stopped working in my rental at 9:30 in the evening by 11;00 in the morning I had a new one fitted, it cost me dearly for the quick response but at least I’ll get my weeks rental which is the same as the cost of the oven. If I had waited 3 days for delivery the guest could have got a refund and I would still have to pay for the new oven.
According to Airbnb the guest is always right.
Your husband’s stance of “buyer beware” does not fly with Air. Your guest relied on your listing that A/C is an amenity. You have a duty and responsibility to provide a properly working unit so your guest receives the benefit of having the air cooled as promised and paid for; otherwise, your guest is being “damaged” financially…and physically by the resulting discomfort.
Why will the guest know that they got a bargain in a loft apartment in NY? or care? And what does that have to do with them not having a working air conditioner?
If you have air conditioner as an amenity in your listing it doesn’t mean well it only works when I make x amount of money.
Sorry but in this case you have to either repair the unit or get a new one.
I would either raise your price so that it leaves you buffer for emergency fixes such as repairing the unit properly or just remove AC from your amenities (can’t complain about something you never said you had).
Tell them the ac can only drop the temperature a certain amount relative to the outside temp and humidity. My father was an Hvac engineer and thus is what he explained to customers who complained about central AC installations . Make sure curtains are closed during day to keep room cool.
Thank you to all of you for the advice. My husband was able to relevel the
A/C and the leak has disappeared. Between the two units, the guest seems
comfortable and satisfied. I appreciate so much having this forum as I
learn the ins and outs of hosting. Y
Late to the party but I was going to say that if it was a window unit leaking into the living space that it wasn’t tilted enough. It didn’t need to be level, it needs to tip back so the condensation can drip out the back. I had the same problem last summer during a really humid period here in my desert location. It had been fine for months but once there was a lot of condensation it overflowed into the room. The guest kindly soaked it up with towels and didn’t tell me until they checked out. 
Since I un-leveled it, no issues.