According to the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development, (HPD) residential tenants who do not have heat during the period designated as “Heat Season” (October 1 to May 31) are encouraged to first notify the building owner, managing agent, or superintendent. Under the City Housing Maintenance Code and Multiple Dwelling Law, building owners are required to provide tenants with heat under the following conditions:
? Between the hours of 6 a.m. and 10 p.m., if the outside temperature falls below 55 degrees, the inside temperature is required to be at least 68 degrees Fahrenheit.
? Between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., if the temperature outside falls below 40 degrees, the inside temperature is required to be at least 55 degrees Fahrenheit.
If there is still no heat, tenants should call the city’s Citizen Service Center at 3-1-1, available 24-hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week. For the hearing impaired, the TTY number is 212-504-4115.
Once the complaint is received by the center, HPD staff will make an effort to contact the building’s owner or managing agent to restore hot water service or heat. The tenant will then be contacted by HPD first to determine whether service has been restored. An HPD inspector is sent to the building within 48 hours to validate the complaint and issue the suitable violation, if heat is still not restored. – Alexa Asperin
