Arizona AG sues owners of 3 Tucson apartment complexes over AC problems

For residents living at three Tucson apartment complexes, the Arizona Attorney General’s lawsuit could determine whether landlords must make urgent repairs before continuing to rent units. The case concerns Sedona Springs, Sienna Ridge and Summit Ridge, properties with more than 1,000 apartments combined. The state alleges that many tenants have endured indoor temperatures above the limit set for rental housing in Pima County, along with a range of other maintenance problems, during Tucson’s intense summer heat.

Attorney General Kris Mayes filed the lawsuit against the complexes’ owners, investors and managers, alleging that the properties have not been properly maintained and that residents have not consistently received legally required air conditioning. The properties are Sedona Springs at 373 North Wilmot Road, Sienna Ridge at 5353 East 22nd Street and Summit Ridge at 1252 South Craycroft Road. The defendants include Sedona Springs AZ, Sienna Ridge AZ, Summit Ridge AZ, DMR Sedona Springs AZ, DMR Tucson 1166, Tucson 1166 IG, Dasmen Residential and Luxford Living.

Under Pima County’s rental standard, apartments are expected to be cooled to 80 degrees or less. The lawsuit says tenants at all three complexes have struggled to meet that threshold, with temperatures in some units climbing above 90 degrees. One apartment reportedly reached 98.9 degrees. For people living in Tucson, where summer temperatures can remain dangerous for extended periods, the alleged conditions raise concerns not only about comfort but also about residents’ health and safety, particularly for children, older adults and people with medical vulnerabilities.

The most extensive air conditioning allegations involve Sedona Springs. According to the state, about half of that complex has been without central air conditioning since March. Residents have instead been given temporary window units, but the lawsuit says those devices frequently cool only a single room rather than the entire apartment. That leaves residents choosing which portion of their home to cool, while other rooms remain excessively hot. The complaint also alleges recurring air conditioning failures at Sienna Ridge and Summit Ridge.

The state says the cooling problems are part of a broader pattern that has existed since at least 2023. The allegations include repeated shortages of hot water, deteriorating plumbing, leaks, mold and pest infestations. The complaint also cites broken windows, water and gas problems, structural defects and other conditions that the state says have been allowed to worsen. Taken together, the claims describe apartment communities where basic building systems have frequently failed and where repairs have not kept pace with residents’ needs.

The lawsuit points to a change in ownership as an important part of the properties’ history. Records show that a group of investors purchased all three Tucson complexes in 2017 for $35.8 million. Mayes alleges that the properties began to decline after the new owners took control and have progressively deteriorated since then. The state characterizes the situation as ongoing neglect and deception, while seeking to hold both the ownership entities and the property managers responsible for the conditions described in the complaint.

Before filing the case, Mayes sent cease and desist letters to the properties demanding that repairs be made. The new lawsuit was filed in Maricopa County and includes a request for a temporary restraining order and a preliminary injunction. The state is asking a court to require the defendants to bring the apartments into compliance with state law. It also wants the court to prevent the defendants from renting units in Arizona unless those apartments meet legal requirements.

The attorney general is also seeking financial relief for tenants and civil penalties against the defendants. Another requested remedy would bar the companies from renting in Arizona until the violations are corrected. Such an order could affect the operation of the three Tucson complexes directly, while also establishing a broader consequence for the companies involved. The case does not yet resolve the allegations, and the defendants had not immediately responded to social media messages or emails seeking comment.

For tenants, the lawsuit follows years of reported problems and arrives during the period when reliable cooling is most critical. Residents have described, through the allegations in the complaint, apartments that cannot be kept within the county’s temperature standard even when temporary equipment is supplied. The state’s case will now move through court proceedings, where the defendants will have an opportunity to respond and where a judge will consider the requests for immediate and longer-term orders. Meanwhile, the lawsuit places the condition of more than 1,000 Tucson apartments under public and legal scrutiny.