Queens Tribune

For many in the fall, the drop in temperature may seem to be more noticeable to the person renting than to a landlord. Not all landlords are aware of the rules about providing heat for tenants. According to New York City Comptroller Bill Thompson, the following rules apply to landlords.

As a matter of law, heat must be provided during the eight-month cycle starting with the first of October through the 31st of May.

Landlords and building owners must adhere to minimum standards in order to satisfy this statute. For instance, if the outside temperature is 55 degrees or below, during the hours of 6 a.m. through 10 p.m. the inside temperature must be at least 68 degrees. Similarly, if the outside temperature during the hours of 10 p.m. through 6 a.m. is 40 degrees or below, landlords have to ensure that it’s at least 55 degrees inside for all occupants.

If you live in either a private home or an apartment house and your landlord isn’t providing you with the proper amount of heat, you should phone the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) complaint number at (212) 824-HEAT (4328), 24-hours, seven-days a week all year round; (212) 863-5504 TTY, for hearing-impaired tenants.

For residents of New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) facilities who want to report heat problems, call (212) 306-3270, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and after 5 p.m. and on weekends, call (212) 289-8000.

Once you report your complaint, you will be issued a log or complaint number. It is vital that you keep this number handy, because your complaint has been automatically forwarded to the code enforcement offices of HPD for investigation and action.

If your landlord doesn’t rectify the situation quickly, contact your borough Code Enforcement Office and make reference to your complaint number. In Queens call (718) 520-3424.

If your complaint is about a commercial building, or the exterior/structural integrity of any building, then make your complaint to the Department of Buildings at the Central Complaint Center at (212) 227-7000.

If you live in a City owned building not managed by NYCHA, call (718) 636-3001/02/03/04.