The Houston City Council has passed a landmark ordinance requiring landlords to provide operable air conditioning in all rental properties - closing a loophole that had long allowed property owners to sidestep the requirement simply by providing window screens.

The council approved the measure 12-2.

The ordinance amends Section 10-363, Division 4, Article IX, Chapter 10 of the Code of Ordinances, Houston, Texas, establishing working air conditioning as a basic health and safety standard for all Houston rental housing.