Aiexpress – New York City has been recently hit by an intense cold wave, causing temperatures to drop to extreme levels. Surprisingly, the city was even colder than Antarctica at the beginning of this week. Sadly, to exacerbate the situation, numerous residents of the city have been facing heating problems in their apartments.
Tenants are provided with legal protections during the “heat season” from October 1st to May 31st. According to these laws, landlords must ensure that the temperature in the building is maintained at a minimum of 68ºF between 6am and 10pm, especially when the outside temperature falls below 55ºF. During the nighttime hours of 10pm to 6am, the temperature can be 6ºF lower but still needs to be at least 62ºF.
Building owners have a responsibility to ensure that tenants have access to hot water throughout the year, maintaining a minimum temperature of 120ºF.
Violating these regulations can lead to landlords facing substantial penalties. The NYC Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) has the authority to impose fines of up to $500 per day for each initial violation related to heat or hot water. Moreover, for subsequent violations at the same building during the same or next calendar year, the fines can go up to $1,000 per day.
Tenants should be aware of their rights and promptly report any violations to ensure their comfort during the cold winter months.
