Note the exact date and time of your temperature measurement. The required temperature depends on the time of day. Note where in the apartment (that is, in which room) you took the reading and try to measure the temperature in the same place each time. Now that the mercury is falling below 55 degrees, one thing is for sure, the heat in your building should have started. Setting your apartment to a comfortable temperature is not something that homeowners can ignore. That`s because the warm season in New York City starts today – October 1 – and lasts until the end of May. Whoever wrote “Baby, It`s Cold Outside” may not have spent much time in some New York apartments. Because baby, sometimes it`s cold inside! In fact, between 2019 and 2020, 98,320 unique heating and hot water issues were reported to 311. It`s (ahem) not cool. If your own cushion is less than soft, you can do more than invest in flannel sheets and ugly holiday sweaters.
You may exercise your rights as a tenant under the NYC Heat Act. According to New York`s Heat Act, your landlord must provide heating and hot water. So, if you freeze, do not go crazy about cooking, take action – these tips will help you. If your radiators are on but you still want to increase the temperature, consider an electric heater, but be sure to take the necessary safety precautions. For example, heaters should never be kept near something that could burn, such as furniture and carpets; Do not place them in bathrooms or kitchens, as running water is nearby. and do not place them on uneven or raised surfaces because they could tip over. Note the date, time, and temperatures “simultaneously.” This means writing down the information immediately. Don`t wait until the end of the day or week to fill out your heating diary.
Meanwhile, when the outside temperature drops below 55 degrees during the day (6 a.m to 10 p.m.m.), your landlord should increase the heating so that your apartment is at least 68 degrees. At night, the temperature in your apartment should be at least 62 degrees, regardless of the outside temperature. Keep in mind that the more neighbors complain, the more likely it is that HPD will experience a breach. Ask your neighbors to get involved as well if their apartments also don`t have heating and no hot water. The “Heat Season” of New York is nicely titled, but a bit of an oxymoron. It takes place in the most icy periods: from October 1 to May 31. New York`s Heat Act states that you have the right to keep your home at a certain temperature during the heating season. It`s 68 degrees a day when it`s less than 55 degrees outdoors.
At night, it is 62 degrees, regardless of the outside temperature. By the way – “night” means from 10 p.m. .m to 6 a.m.m. (Of course, this is the city that doesn`t sleep, but these are times when most people grab their zzz). “The fall weather is here and the freezing temperatures will be there before we know it,” said Rep. Steven Cymbrowitz (D-Brooklyn), chairman of the Assembly`s Housing Committee. “To ensure a safe winter for everyone, it`s important that tenants and landlords understand the city`s requirements for the heating season and what to do if there is a heating or hot water problem. » Heat Season: Every year, the heat season begins on October 1 and ends after May 31. During the warm season, homeowners need to maintain the indoor temperature at certain levels. Creegan said that “longer periods of temperatures below freezing” “require additional inspectors and maintenance personnel, sometimes doubling the normal number,” but he did not give further details. That`s because it`s the “heat season” in the city, the period from October 1 to May 31, when building owners must maintain certain minimum temperatures.
If outside temperatures drop below 55 degrees during the day (6 a.m.-10 p.m.), the house should be heated to at least 68 degrees. At night (10 p.m.-6 a.m.), apartments should be kept at 62 degrees or more, regardless of the outside temperature. If you find yourself in the unfortunate situation that your landlord has violated New York`s heat laws and continues to break the rules, you have a few options. Although you are technically legally allowed to withhold rent, tenants should be careful in pursuing this remedy. In particular, your landlord could turn around and sue you for not paying the rent if you withhold rent in full or pay only partial rent. In this case, however, you are legally entitled to file a counterclaim for breach of the guarantee of habitability by the owner. In this case, the court will order a rent reduction if you are legally allowed to do so. Required temperatures: The temperature required in a rented apartment depends on the time of day and the outside temperature: Lack of heat: Most family stores sell a thermometer designed to measure air temperature (not human body temperature!) for a few dollars. Here are some tips on heat protocol: Since New York City has both scorching summers and icy winters, most tenants struggle with temperature issues in their apartments year-round. Although the law provides limited protection during the warmer months, the city has fairly strong heat laws from October to May. Despite this strong legal protection, hundreds of thousands of tenants complain of a lack of heating and hot water every winter.
In 2017, New York City tightened its heating laws by extending the duration of the “heat season” and increasing indoor temperature requirements. Here`s a look at it! If all else fails, you can initiate legal proceedings in the housing court against the landlord, called the “HP procedure”. “Essentially, it`s a lawsuit brought by tenants against the landlord to force repairs into the apartment, correct outstanding building violations, or resolve any other outstanding issues the tenant has with the landlord or building. Although the 2021-2022 winter season has been very mild so far, New Yorkers can`t be too comfortable as winter isn`t over yet! Winters in New York can be brutal. Between commuting to outdoor subway platforms and watching your footsteps as you navigate New York`s uncrowded sidewalks, the last thing tenants want to deal with is the cold at home. According to New York`s heating laws, your landlord must provide enough heat and hot water. Read below for more information about New York`s heat laws and your remedies if you find yourself in a situation where your apartment doesn`t have enough heat. New York City has been frozen for nearly two weeks, with temperatures below 30 degrees since Christmas Night.
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