This week’s bitter cold is a powerful reminder that housing security means more than just a roof over your head — it also means being warm and safe under that roof. As New York City endures this very cold winter HPD wants you to know you have a right to adequate heat and hot water and we are here to ensure that building owners fulfill their obligations to tenants. Here is what you need to know.
Every New Yorker has the right to adequate heat and hot water. During heat season, which runs from Oct. 1 to May 31, landlords are required by law to maintain indoor temperatures at a minimum of 68 degrees between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m., when outdoor temperatures fall below 55 degrees, and at least 62 degrees from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., regardless of the weather outside. Hot water must be available year-round at a minimum temperature of 120 degrees.
If your heat or hot water isn’t working, contact your building’s management first. If they are unresponsive, call NYC’s 311 complaint system immediately — our HPD team is ready to help.
When you file a complaint through 311 — whether by phone, online, or via the 311 app — HPD’s inspectors spring into action. Last winter, our team responded to more than 144,000 heat-related complaints, often within hours. During the winter, heat complaints are our No. 1 priority.
After you report an issue, HPD contacts your landlord by reaching out to your building owner or manager to make sure they know what’s happening and more importantly to ask them to address the problem quickly.
If you are a landlord struggling to maintain your heating system: don’t wait until we arrive for inspections. Reach out now. The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) can provide financial help for heating bills and equipment repairs.
If the problem is not addressed by your landlord, an inspector will visit your building to check for heat and hot water. While there, our inspector will also check for other potential hazards like missing smoke detectors, lead-based paint, or self-closing door malfunctions.
HPD issues violations when there is inadequate heat to incentivize landlords to comply with the law. In extreme cases where the landlord is not taking action, HPD may coordinate repair work directly and bill the property owner through our Emergency Repair Program. For repeated instances of no heat or hot water, we may even initiate legal action against the owner to compel repairs.
While your heat is out or less than adequate, please stay safe while you wait for repairs. If you are forced to use space heaters, only use space heaters that are certified by Underwriters Laboratory (U/L) and never place heaters near flammable materials like curtains or furniture and never plug space heaters into extension cords or power strips.
Never use your stove or oven to heat your home — it’s a fire hazard and can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning. Tragically, we’ve seen unsafe heating methods result in fires that have claimed lives and displaced families. These tragedies are preventable, and HPD wants to ensure tenants only use safe temporary solutions.
It’s also important to make sure both your apartment door and any hallways/stairway doors automatically close all the way after being opened.
If your life is ever in danger, please call 911. If you smell gas, leave the building immediately and contact 911 and your utility provider.
Last winter was one of our busiest on record, with more than 144,000 unique heat and hot water complaints reported. Despite a 15% increase in housing maintenance problems citywide, HPD reduced response times and increased productivity, completing more inspections per team than in the past five years.
We also collected more than $3.5 million in penalties from landlords who failed to meet their obligations, a reminder that we take enforcement seriously. Heat is not a luxury — it’s a right, and we’ll continue to ensure landlords meet their responsibilities.
At HPD, we believe that housing is about more than just four walls and a roof — it’s about creating a safe, stable foundation for life. That’s why we’re here to help New Yorkers navigate challenges like lack of adequate heat during the cold months.
If the heat is not on, do not wait. Speak up and report the issue right away, so we can help you get the warmth and safety you deserve.
Carrión is commissioner of the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development.