Residential heat and hot water requirements

From October 1 through May 31, the City requires building owners to provide tenants with heat according to the following rules:

  • Between 6 AM and 10 PM, if the outside temperature falls below 55 degrees, the inside temperature must be at least 68 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Between 10 PM and 6 AM, the inside temperature must be at least 62 degrees Fahrenheit at all times. There is no outside temperature requirement.

You can make a complaint about a residential building that does not have enough hot water at any time. Hot water must be provided 365 days per year at a constant minimum temperature of 120 degrees Fahrenheit.

Excessive heat complaints are only accepted between June 1 and September 30.

Before filing a complaint, you should try to resolve the issue with your landlord, managing agent, or superintendent. If you live in a co-op or condo, you should first report apartment maintenance issues to the owner, management company, or board before filing a complaint with HPD.

What you need

If you are making a heat or hot water complaint for your apartment, you must provide your contact information.

If you are making a building-wide excessive heat complaint, you must provide your contact information.

You can make a complaint about a residential apartment that does not have enough hot water at any time. Hot water must be provided 365 days per year at a constant minimum temperature of 120 degrees Fahrenheit.

You can make a complaint about excessive heat in a residential apartment between June 1 and September 30.

You can make a complaint about a residential building that does not have enough hot water at any time. Hot water must be provided 365 days per year at a constant minimum temperature of 120 degrees Fahrenheit.

You can make a complaint about excessive heat in a residential building between June 1 and September 30.

What happens next

The Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) investigates maintenance complaints and tickets owners who break the law.

Due to Coronavirus (COVID-19) health and safety concerns, Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) staff will wear masks if inspection is required/attempted. Tenants are also asked to wear masks during any inspection.

Learn more about HPD complaints and inspections.

Additional assistance

There is additional support available for tenants in rent-controlled or rent-stabilized apartments. To learn more, go to the Rent Regulated Apartments page.

For more information about residential property maintenance requirements and tenant rights and responsibilities, use the Housing Rules for Owners and Tenants page.

Copies of maintenance complaints are available for both Tenants and Landlords.For additional questions about a complaint or to get copies of complaints, go to the HPD Building Information and Code Enforcement Borough Service Centers page.

Housing court

If you made a complaint and your landlord didn't fix the problem, you can take legal action in Housing Court. Document all contact with your landlord and HPD about the conditions in your apartment so you can use it in court.

To learn more about Housing Court, go to the Housing Court for Tenants and Landlords page.

You can report a heat problem in a NYCHA building to the NYCHA Customer Contact Center.

To report water issues, use the Building Water Complaint page. To report unresolved maintenance issues, use the NYCHA Borough Management Office page.

  • Agency: New York City Housing Authority
  • Division: Maintenance Hotline
  • Phone Number: (718) 707-7771
  • Business Hours: 24 hours, 7 days a week
  • Staff is available at all times to handle emergencies and schedule routine maintenance repairs for Mon - Fri: 6:00 AM - midnight. Automated assistance is also available in Mandarin, Russian, and Spanish.

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