Air Conditioning in South Carolina

Is air conditioning an essential service in South Carolina?  No.  Can you treat an HVAC repair just like any other non-essential appliance repair?  No.

Take this scenario.  A tenant lives in a condo on the third floor of a complex.  His AC goes out in August.  He calls the property management company who informs him they have 14 days to initiate the repair to restore his air conditioning.  The tenant is hot and living in an uncomfortable environment.  How do you expect the tenant to respond?  Rightly so the tenant flips out.  

This was a real scenario where someone I worked with started quoting he SC Tenant Landlord Act to this tenant living in a hot condo without air conditioning IN AUGUST.  I have heard people say that there was a time South Carolina didn't have air conditioning.  There was also a time we didn't have wifi, microwaves, smartphones, or even wheels.  That doesn't mean people today are willing to go without them.  

In the scenario previously described I happen to be good friends with the Owner of the property.  I contacted the tenant and assured him a work order had been sent and the repair was being made.  I contacted the Owner after hours to let her know about the problem and that it needed to be resolved quickly.  Luckily this Owner is awesome and gave me approval on the repair right away. I contacted the HVAC contractor and asked him to expedite the repair.  The tenant's air conditioning was restored the following day.

HVAC repairs can be one of the most difficult emergency calls to get.  Tenants are uncomfortable and want it fixed right away.  In most cases the Owner needs to approve the repair due to the expense.  Some tenants have children, pets, or elderly residents who can't adapt well to extremely hot temperatures.

I totally understand.  In April 2006 when I bought my first condo I was provided a home warranty.  In July 2006 my HVAC unit stopped working.  The entire unit needed to be replaced.  It took one month for the home warranty company to get the new unit.  I had to send my dog to live at someone else's house.  I took cold showers.  It felt like camping. I shared my story with the tenant who was without ac to assure him I had been there.  

As a Property Manager you work for your client but you have an obligation to address the needs of your tenants as well.  Given my experience with HVAC repairs and the discomfort it causes tenants Pelican Properties is treating HVAC repairs in the same manner as an essential service.  If the repair can't be made in a timely manner other arrangements will be made.  We want happy tenants.  It's hot here in Charleston and Mt Pleasant most of the year and while once upon a time there was no such thing as air conditioning today in the south no one should be without it.

HVAC for Mt Pleasant Property Management