It can be daunting to move into a new home in New York City, but especially in the wintertime when the cold weather has already set in. One issue you may encounter is no heat in your NYC apartment, and while it’s a problem you never wanted to have, it’s best to know what to do in the event it comes up.
What to Do When You Don’t Have Heat in Your NYC Apartment
When you find yourself without heat in your NYC apartment, the most important step is to take action quickly before it gets toounbearably cold. Here are several steps you should take:
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Call the Super: You should first call your super or building manager – it could be a simple fix and they can tell you over the phone what to do.
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Contact Your Gas Provider: If they cannot get your heat turned on, they will likely tell you to call your gas provider.
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Submit a 311 Complaint: If you are unable to contact your landlord, gas company, or super, you may want to submit a 311 complaint to the city immediately.
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Report the Problem to the State Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR): Once you have submitted your complaint to the city, it is important to reach out directly to the DHCR because they are responsible for regulating landlords and determining if an apartment has proper heat services.
What Is the Law on Heat in NYC Apartments?
Most people don’t realize that the City of New York has specific rules about heat in NYC apartments. According to the law, landlords are obligated to ensure that every apartment has a heating system that has the following properties:
• must be kept in good working order
• heats up the room to at least 68 degrees between 6 a.m and 10 p.m, and at least 66 degrees from 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.
• must turn on within a reasonable amount of time
• must stay on for at least 12 hours
• must serve all areas of the rental unit
What to Do After You’ve Contacted the Right People
Once you’ve done all that you can do, there is still more that you can do to try to get your heat issue resolved. Here are a few tips to help you out:
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Stay Persistent: Don’t give up, if your landlord or gas provider is unresponsive, keep calling until you get an answer.
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Document Your Calls and Complaints: Documenting these tactics will keep your landlord and gas provider honest and ensure that you have proof of your attempts to fix the issue.
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Request Repairs in Writing: Requesting repairs in writing is another way to ensure that your landlord knows that they need to take specific steps to repair the heat.
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Don’t Pay Rent: One of the most extreme but useful steps is to not pay rent until the issue is resolved. This will add pressure to your landlord and keep them motivated to get the heat working.
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Seek Legal Action: If all else fails, a final option is to seek legal action. An experienced real estate lawyer will be able to walk you through the process and help you get the heat turned on.
What to Do Going Forward
Whether the heat in your NYC apartment has been turned on, or you are looking for ways to prevent this situation from occurring in the future, here are some tips for staying warm in the future:
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Layer Up: Invest in lots of layers – warm sweaters, blankets, and thermals. This will also help you save on your energy bill.
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Get Draft Avoiders: Draft avoiders are cheap and easy to install, and can help reduce some of the chilliness.
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Seal your Windows: Invest in some plastic sheeting and tape to seal the gaps that allow cold airflow into the apartment.
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Insulate Your Apartment: Make sure that your apartment is properly insulated to keep the warm air in and the cold air out.
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Invest in Space Heaters: Space heaters can be great to use in the short-term while you are waiting for the issue to be resolved. Just be careful to not leave them on unattended!
Having no heat in your NYC apartment is not an ideal situation, but the good news is that there are steps you can take to alleviate the problem and make sure you are warm and comfortable in your home. Start by contact your super, gas provider, and submitting a 311 complaint to the city. You can also take some preventative measures such as adding layers to your clothing, investing in space heaters, and sealing your windows. If all else fails, don’t forget to call a lawyer and start a legal action against the landlord if necessary.
