Air Conditioning and Ventilation in a Summer Rental: Safety Rules and Guest Complaints

Air conditioning in a short-term rental: when it's an obligation, and when it's just guest expectation

Thirty-plus degrees in Warsaw or Krakow, a top-floor apartment with no air conditioning, and the first one-star review with the comment "unbearably hot." Air conditioning in short-term rental is one of those topics where the law says one thing and the review market says another, and a host needs to understand both sides to avoid losing money on either front.

Key takeaways

• Fire safety regulations don't require air conditioning, but they do require working ventilation matching the building's design
• Portable air conditioners with an exhaust hose create real fire risk if plugged in through the wrong extension cord
• Missing air conditioning must be clearly stated in the listing, hiding it is the most common cause of complaints and cancellations in July and August
• Poor ventilation combined with high guest turnover favours moisture and mould, which is a sanitary problem, not just a comfort one

What the law says: ventilation yes, air conditioning no

Polish building and fire safety regulations don't impose an obligation to install air conditioning in a residential unit rented short-term. What is mandatory is working ventilation matching the building's design, gravity or mechanical, that ensures air exchange in every room, including the bathroom and kitchen.

In practice this means a host doesn't have to install air conditioning, but does have to make sure existing ventilation works correctly, vents can't be blocked by furniture, taped over, or damaged.

Portable air conditioner risk: what to check before the season

Portable air conditioners with a hose venting warm air through a window are a popular solution in apartments without a fixed installation. They do carry real risks worth eliminating before peak season hits:

• Extension cords: a portable AC unit draws a lot of power. Plugging it in through a cheap, long, coiled-up extension cord increases the risk of the cable overheating and causing a fire. The unit should be plugged directly into an outlet or through a certified, fully uncoiled extension cord.
• Condensation and water leaks: an incorrectly positioned unit can leak, which, when the host isn't around between guests, can lead to flooring damage or water damage to the apartment below.
• Instructions for guests: it's worth leaving a simple, one-page operating guide for the AC unit, many complaints and damage come from a guest not knowing how to set the right mode or empty the condensation tank.

Reviews and complaints: why you have to state the lack of AC outright

The biggest mistake hosts make in summer isn't lacking air conditioning, it's hiding that fact in the listing. A guest who books an apartment without any mention of missing AC, and walks into thirty degrees in an attic unit, leaves a negative review regardless of how nice the photos were.

• State the (lack of) air conditioning in the amenities section on Airbnb and Booking.com, not only in the text description that some guests skip
• If you offer fans instead of air conditioning, mention that explicitly, it's better than silence
• For units on higher floors or under a sloped roof, where summer temperatures run especially high, consider adding a warning sentence in the description

Moisture and mould with high guest turnover

Poor ventilation combined with frequent guest turnover (showers, cooking, drying towels) favours moisture buildup. In summer, with windows closed and AC running, the problem can build up faster than in winter, when natural gravity ventilation works more effectively thanks to the temperature difference.

Regular checks of vents, the bathroom, and closets for moisture should be part of the cleaning routine between guests during the summer months, not just an annual inspection.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can I be fined during an inspection for not having air conditioning?

No, missing air conditioning on its own isn't a regulatory violation. An inspection can, however, flag faulty ventilation (blocked or taped-over vents) as non-compliance with the property's building design.

Is it worth investing in fixed air conditioning before the season?

That's an economic decision, not a legal one. In cities with heavy listing competition, fixed air conditioning often raises the achievable nightly rate enough that the investment pays back within one or two seasons, especially for units on higher floors.

What should I do if a guest reports an AC malfunction during their stay?

It's worth having a quick-response procedure in place (service phone number, a spare fan you can drop off), plus a clear note in the house rules stating what timeframe the host commits to for responding to equipment breakdown reports during a stay.

Does a portable air conditioner require the housing association's approval?

A portable unit with a hose through the window usually doesn't require approval, since it doesn't affect the building facade. Installing a fixed air conditioning outdoor unit on the facade often does, it's worth checking the housing association's rules before installation.