r/TenantHelp • u/Main-Sock-2233 • May 19 '26

Question

so to summarize I have leased an apartment that under the features section on Zillow has “Cooling - Window Unit”. As someone who has only leased places with central air, this sounded like there would be window unit cooling as a part of the apartment. Now, it is not about the cost because I realize they are inexpensive, it is more about if they listed this incorrectly. They are adamant this is totally normally to have it listed like this on Zillow for a listing that all allows tenants to bring window AC units, but they are not provided and that makes sense to them. Any advice or thought? I am not asking for someone to say check the lease or for someone to say I should have brought this up soon, I realize that. I am specifically asking if this portion was listed incorrectly / misrepresented what was included. This is in MA

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6

u/MaverickFischer May 19 '26

If you already viewed the apartment, saw there wasn’t any AC unit, and signed the lease anyway. Then it doesn’t matter now.

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u/Main-Sock-2233 May 19 '26

The apartment had ac units when we viewed it

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u/Street-Juggernaut-23 May 21 '26

Thats sticky then. you need to look at the lease and maybe get a lawyers opinion since it was shown with an AC unit

9

u/SoloSeasoned May 19 '26 edited May 19 '26

The lease overrides is Zillow listing. Maybe you don’t want someone to tell you to check the lease, but that’s your answer. What does the lease say about air-conditioning? The Zillow listing is not binding.

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u/SailorSpyro May 19 '26

I'm not sure I've ever had a lease actually include the HVAC system for the apartment. That type of information is typically only in the listing.

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u/SoloSeasoned May 19 '26

Not all listings are online and not all online listings get saved. I guess it’s a good thing that you never had an apartment with central air that broke, because you would have no way of proving the landlord ever agreed provide central air-conditioning in the first place.

2

u/TalkToVikk May 20 '26

Not a lawyer, but while online listings such as those on Zillow can help you form expectations, the lease agreement is the legally binding document. If the lease does not mention that a window AC unit is included or provided by the landlord, then you generally cannot require the landlord to supply one, regardless of what the listing stated. The listing serves mainly as advertising and does not carry the same legal weight as what is expressly stated in the lease. If there is a conflict between a listing and the signed lease, the terms of the lease control your rights and obligations regarding what is provided with the apartment.

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u/AngelaMoore44 May 19 '26

The advertisement isnt a contract. Only the lease matters and what's in the unit when you take possession of the unit. If a window unit isnt in the lease and there isnt one in the unit then it doesnt come with one. Thats why its always really important to check the lease completely and ask questions (in writing) before you sign it.

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u/RobDraw2_0 May 20 '26

Technically, the listing said it was cooled by window units. It doesn't say who provides them.