The following words or terms, for the purpose of this chapter, shall
have the definitions set forth herein.
APARTMENT
A room or group of rooms rented or leased by a person from another
person for the purpose of human habitation.
HEATING SEASON
The period of each year from October 15 until April 15 of the following
year, inclusive.
HUMAN HABITATION
The act of living or residing within the confines of a premises consisting
of a room or rooms. Rooms considered to be used for human habitation shall
include such rooms as kitchens, living rooms, bedrooms, dining rooms, and
areas of similar use, but shall not include porches, sun porches, closets,
storage areas, basements, or attics.
PERSON
Includes individuals, corporations, partnerships, associations, and
joint ventures. Singular words shall include the plural and masculine shall
include the feminine and neuter.
TEMPERATURE
The mean average temperature as shall be determined by six readings
taken during a calendar day at intervals of not less than three nor more than
five hours at a point three feet from the floor and equidistant from all opposing
walls of a room, however, the first reading and last reading shall not be
less than 20 hours apart.
Any person renting or leasing an apartment to another person shall maintain
a minimum temperature of 65° in the rooms used for human
habitation for the period during the heating season.
This chapter shall not apply to any person who rents or leases an apartment
to another person where the tenant has, within his control, a thermostat or
other means for the regulating of temperature, nor where the terms of the
lease agreement, whether oral or written, provide that the tenant is to furnish
heat to the demised premises, nor shall this chapter apply if the failure
to furnish heat is a result of a mechanical malfunction or failure of a public
service company to furnish either electricity or natural gas or unavailability.