My apartment's air conditioning has been broken for almost three weeks now and it's been hitting 95+ degrees outside. I've sent two emails and called twice, but my landlord keeps saying they're "working on it" without any actual repair appointments scheduled. I'm in Texas and it's unbearable.
Those previous answers are on the right track but miss the timing issue - three weeks is already well past the point where you should've escalated this. Texas Property Code §92.008 requires landlords to make repairs in a "reasonable time," and in summer heat like you're dealing with, courts generally interpret that as days, not weeks. The certified mail route is solid, but you don't have to wait around hoping it works.
Your best move right now is to call your local housing authority or tenant rights organization (most cities have one) and ask about your specific options. Some jurisdictions let you "repair and deduct" from rent if the landlord ignores a formal notice, though you'll want to verify that applies in your area before going that route - it can get messy legally if done wrong. You could also file a complaint with your city's housing department, which sometimes lights a fire under landlords faster than anything else. Meanwhile, keep every communication in writing going forward: no more phone calls where there's no record. Send one more email today laying out that the AC has been down for three weeks, you need it fixed by [specific date one week out], and if it isn't you'll be pursuing other remedies. Keep it businesslike, not angry.
One thing folks don't always realize: if your landlord is being this unresponsive, there's probably a reason - maybe they're in financial trouble or just don't care. Either way, you might need to decide whether pursuing legal remedies is worth it versus breaking the lease and moving. I've seen tenants win small claims cases for rent abatement during uninhabitable periods, but it takes time and effort. That said, don't let them push you around. This is literally a livability issue in july 2026 heat.
In Texas, you can send your landlord a formal written notice (certified mail works well) giving them a specific deadline - usually 7 days - to make repairs, and if they don't comply, you're generally allowed to repair it yourself and deduct the cost from rent, or in some cases break your lease without penalty. You might also contact your local tenant rights organization or housing authority to file a complaint, which often lights a fire under landlords since they face potential fines. Document everything: take photos/videos of the temperature, keep copies of all your requests and their responses. Given it's July 2026 and that heat is genuinely dangerous, this isn't something to let drag on - a lawyer consultation might be worth a quick call too since some offer free initial advice.
Document everything in writing from here on out - texts, emails, photos of the thermostat - because if this escalates, you'll need that paper trail. One thing that actually moves landlords: contact your local housing authority or tenant rights organization and ask them to send an official inquiry letter on their letterhead; most landlords respond way faster to government agencies than to tenants directly, and you might qualify for rent withholding or repair-and-deduct options depending on your lease and local rules.
Stop waiting for your landlord to "get around to it" and file a complaint with your local code enforcement or housing authority before you do anything else. This is your fastest leverage. Most cities in Texas have tenant hotlines or online portals where you can report uninhabitable conditions, and once an official complaint lands, landlords suddenly become motivated. Three weeks without AC in 95+ degree heat is legitimately a habitability issue, not a preference thing.
After you've filed that complaint, send your landlord one final written message (email is fine, but follow it up with certified mail if they ignore it) stating you're giving them 7 days to schedule a specific repair appointment. Be direct: "Please confirm a repair date and time by [specific date]. If repairs are not completed by [date], I will pursue other remedies available under Texas law, which may include repair-and-deduct or breaking my lease." Keep copies of everything - emails, photos of your thermostat reading, the timestamps on your calls. This isn't just about covering yourself legally; it's about showing you're serious and creating a record.
The repair-and-deduct option exists in Texas, meaning you can pay for the repair yourself and deduct it from rent, but honestly that's more of a last resort and can get messy. The code enforcement route usually works faster because it puts official pressure on them without you having to front money or risk retaliation headaches. Document which agency you filed with and when - that gives you actual proof you tried to work within the system.
Have you checked whether your lease specifies AC as a required amenity, or is it just assumed? That matters because Texas does require habitability, and three weeks of no cooling in 95-degree heat is pretty clearly uninhabitable. Here's what I'd do that nobody's mentioned yet: call your landlord one more time and this time ask specifically "what day and time will the repair person arrive" - make them give you an actual appointment or admit they haven't scheduled it. Then immediately send a text or email back saying "confirming appointment for [date/time]" even if they never explicitly said it. After that, if nothing happens, you've got documentation of their refusal, and you can legitimately withhold rent (put it in escrow, don't just skip it) or pay for an emergency repair yourself and deduct it from rent - but get that written record first so you're covered if they try to evict you.
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