To stop heat resilience retrofits from triggering rent hikes, lawmakers must decouple property improvements from arbitrary price increases. One effective tool is the implementation of split-incentive regulations. Currently, landlords often pocket the savings from lower utility bills while tenants face higher rents to cover the initial capital expenditure. Laws could mandate that a portion of the energy savings from new HVAC systems or high-albedo roofing be credited directly to the tenant's rent.
Building codes should also evolve to include tiered compliance timelines. Instead of forcing all buildings to meet strict new thermal standards overnight, cities can offer grace periods or tax abatements specifically for multi-family properties serving low-income residents. This prevents the sudden
