NEW YORK (PIX11) – Autumn has officially arrived in New York City, marking a time when temperatures begin to drop.
Since the start of October, building owners are required to provide heat to tenants, according to 311.
Tenant rights
“Residential building owners in New York City are legally required to provide heat and hot water to their tenants,” reads the 311 website.
From October 1 to May 31, New York law requires building owners to set the heat at or above 68 degrees when the temperature falls below 55 degrees between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. Thermostats must be set at least 62 degrees, regardless of the temperature outside, between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.
My landlord has not turned on the heat.
You can file a complaint on the Official Website of the City of New York here.
The city recommends following these steps to keep your apartment and building warm:
Keep your windows fully closed
Remove your window air conditioning unit
Move your furniture away from radiators to keep the air moving freely
Open the valve on your radiator
Keep hallway and stairwell windows closed
Building owners who fail to regulate their buildings’ temperatures may be subject to fines of hundreds of dollars, according to the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development.
Matthew Euzarraga is a multimedia journalist from El Paso, Texas. He has covered local news and LGBTQIA topics in the New York City Metro area since 2021. He joined the PIX11 Digital team in 2023. You can see more of his work here.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.