Krystal Garcia, a mother of two young children, told KSAT that the air‑conditioning in her unit at the Four Thousand Horizon Hill complex stopped working after a storm on Aug. 28. Despite submitting multiple maintenance requests that were marked completed, the bedroom where her 7‑year‑old and 4‑year‑old sleep remains uncomfortably hot.
Garcia placed a thermometer on the bed; after 15 minutes it read about 90°F. An infrared thermometer showed most of the room at 89.4°F, while a nearby room with a functioning unit stayed near 74°F. “I’m paying so much money and I’m not getting what I’m paying for,” she said, adding that she is “absolutely furious” about the situation.
City services respond
After Garcia filed a complaint, city officials arrived at the complex the same day. She said the city responded quickly, texting her a follow‑up message: “This is an officer with city services, has your AC unit been fixed?” The prompt response reflects the city’s commitment to addressing health‑ and safety‑related housing concerns.
Property management’s actions
KSAT contacted the leasing office, which directed the reporter to the corporate office. An email sent on Sept. 8 was answered by ReyAnne Ristow, director of operations for Reep Residential, who said the initial issue was a tripped breaker and that the unit had been checked and appeared to work. Ristow added that a team would revisit the unit that night to determine if a new problem had arisen.
Ristow also noted that the problem had been reported in only one unit, though other residents at the complex reported similar difficulties. One neighbor mentioned using a temporary window unit, while two others said their AC units were not operating at full capacity.
Tenant‑rights context
Texas law provides tenants with remedies when a landlord fails to repair a condition that materially affects health or safety after proper notice. In some cases, a tenant may arrange for the repair and deduct the cost from future rent, though the deduction is generally limited to one month’s rent and must follow specific procedural requirements.
Garcia said she previously tried withholding rent during an earlier maintenance issue, only to be hit with a $200 late fee. Tenants considering similar actions are advised to review the law carefully or seek legal counsel. In San Antonio, violations can also be reported to the City’s Code Enforcement division.
Next steps
Garcia is waiting for the maintenance crew to return and fix the unit. She hopes the issue will be resolved quickly so her children can stay comfortable during the hot Texas summer. The city’s involvement underscores the importance of municipal oversight in ensuring landlords meet basic habitability standards.
Original reporting: San Antonio, TX News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
