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Narrow vote changes Albuquerque city code to require cooling for tenants
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Keeping cool is now a right for Albuquerque renters.
At the tail-end of a marathon City Council meeting that stretched into early Tuesday, councilors voted 5-4 to approve an ordinance introduced by Councilor Tammy Fiebelkorn that changes the city code to require landlords provide cooling for all tenants.
City code and state tenant rights did not previously specify that renters must have access to cooling, which is why Fiebelkorn said she introduced the bill. State law does require landlords to provide heating.
The bill drew opposition from a few landlords and representatives of landlord advocacy groups during the public comment portion of the meeting, while a handful of renters, who said they have insufficient cooling or no cooling, spoke in support of the ordinance.
The bill had been sent to the council with a “do not pass” recommendation by the Finance and Government Operations Committee last month.
During the committee hearing, the bill’s opponents expressed concern that swamp coolers could not achieve the bill’s 80 degrees or lower requirement in every room. That language was removed from the bill Tuesday. Others worried the cost burden of installing cooling for landlords could be shifted onto renters.
Councilors Louie Sanchez, Dan Lewis, Dan Champine and Renee Grout voted against the measure, while Brook Bassan Joaquín Baca, Klarissa Peña and Nichole Rogers joined Fiebelkorn in support.
