April 2023 Bulletin to Property Owners

Dear Property Owners,

The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) periodically provides updates on new legislation and information on available materials and resources to residential building owners to support compliance with the New York City Housing Maintenance Code, the New York State Multiple Dwelling Law and other relevant city codes. To translate this webpage, click on the translate button in the header above.

This publication is intended for informational purposes only and is not intended as legal advice. This information is not a complete or final statement of all the duties of owners and tenants regarding laws and rules relating to housing in New York City. 

Upcoming Webinar

Lead-Based Paint: An Overview of New York City’s Requirements for Building Owners

Tuesday, May 02, 2023, 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM

Join us for an overview of New York City’s requirements for building owners. Lead-based paint compliance is a complex topic. For residential building owners trying to learn more about how to protect their tenants, this Webinar hosted by HPD's Office of Enforcement and Neighborhood Services (OENS) provides a broad introduction to New York City's lead-based paint rules.  We will discuss which buildings the rules apply to, what owners must do to prevent lead-based paint poisoning, and how the law is enforced. This presentation is designed for audiences who are unfamiliar with lead-based paint, but audiences of all levels will find it useful. 

Registration Link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4212384507414455895

OENS recommends viewing this Webinar before moving on to the other Webinars in the agency's lead-based paint series, which can be found here: Lead-Based Paint - HPD (nyc.gov).

Virtual Property Management Courses

Navigating Housing Court and Understanding Rental Housing Regulations

Tuesday, May 9, 2023, 6:00 PM– 8:00 PM

New York’s Rent Laws can be daunting to navigate. This class provides an overview of property owner responsibilities, mediating tenant-landlord disputes, and when you should go to Housing Court. Topics covered:

• New York's rent regulations
• Landlord-tenant mediation
• How to initiate access, non-payment, and holdover evictions
• How to navigate Housing Court

Register in advance for this meeting:

https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAocOyvrDIiGNCBQM0mbMe8KdHlJTNLS2mK

Pest Management: Tips on How to Eliminate Rodents, Bedbugs, & Roaches

Tuesday, June 6, 2023, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

How to safely identify, control & prevent Mice, Rats, Roaches, and Bedbugs in residential settings. Residential building owners in New York City are required to take steps to keep their buildings free of mice, rats, roaches, and bedbugs. In this class, we will discuss the owner’s responsibilities to identify and eliminate pests, review the annual inspection requirements and when to use a licensed contractor.

Register in advance for this meeting:

https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUqc-2srwqHN358vAC3NvMpHbzmdL96TCd

Preventing Rental Housing Discrimination and Harassment

Tuesday, June 13, 2023, 6:00PM-8:00PM

This workshop provides information about protected classes under the New York City Human Rights Law, emphasizing protections against discrimination based on lawful source of income and disabilities. It also covers unlawful, discriminatory lending practices and how the Human Rights Law can protect against tenant harassment. The NYC Commission on Human Rights (CCHR) is here to help.

Register in advance for this meeting:

https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYtfuutrzsjHdOkfseZsedoRdJb-duRiWhm

Financial Empowerment, Credit, and Legal Protection

Tuesday, June 20, 2023, 6:00PM-8:00PM

This workshop provides information about protected classes in housing, emphasizing protections against discrimination based on lawful source of income and disabilities. It also covers unlawful, discriminatory lending practices and how the Human Rights Law can protect against tenant harassment. 

Register in advance for this meeting:

https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwkdOyrqT4pHN3f5-Ej3Lj8ZK1JGTKbYBeL

Let Us Help You Navigate Department of Buildings Rules: Learn How to Get Permits, Resolve Oath Summons, and More!

Tuesday, June 27, 2023, 6:00PM-8:00PM 

Come learn how to navigate the Department of Buildings’ (DOB) online resources including DOB NOW, Building Permits, Certificate of Occupancy (CO), and the Building Information System (BIS). This class will be also geared towards property owners who have existing “open” OATH summonses issued by a DOB Inspector. Guidance will be provided on how to resolve the violation and submitting an acceptable Certificate of Correction to the Department of Buildings’ Administrative Enforcement Unit (AEU).

Register in advance for this meeting:

https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIudOuqqD8qHdW0RCwPOwKrfsBsRcOc1iyY

Window Guards Annual Notice- Window Guards Save Lives

Each year, young children are injured or die in falls from unguarded windows. These are preventable deaths and injuries. As temperatures rise and windows are opened, the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), the NYC Administration for Children’s Services (ACS), and the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) are urging landlords, homeowners, and tenants to take action to prevent window falls. Properly installed window guards can prevent children from falling out of open windows. This Spring , there have already been numerous preventable falls. Owners must comply with window guard requirements and tenants must let the building owner know when a child aged 10 or younger lives or is cared for in the apartment. 

Local Law 57 of 2011 requires property owners to provide and properly install approved window guards on all windows, including first floor bathrooms and windows leading onto a balcony or terrace in an apartment where a child 10 years of age or younger resides and in each common area window, if any, in such buildings. The exceptions to this law are windows that open onto a fire escape and windows on the first floor that are a required secondary exit in a building in which there are fire escapes on the second floor and up. For more information on window guard installations for different types of windows, go to  Window Guards Landlord - NYC Health.

The law also requires owners to send an Annual Notice to tenants of multiple dwellings (buildings of three or more apartments) to determine if window guards are required.  The window guard annual notice form for multiple dwellings is combined with the annual notice form for lead-based paint required under Local Law 1 of 2004.  See the November 2022 bulletin for more information on the Annual Notice if you have not already completed that process. 

HPD Mobile Outreach Van

Spring is here and HPD’s Mobile Outreach team is getting ready to kick off another season of events across New York City neighborhoods.   The HPD Outreach Van takes HPD's community engagement teams on the road, bringing information and services directly to homeowners across the five boroughs. The van, staffed by the OENS’ Division of Neighborhood Preservation’s Outreach Unit, advises New Yorkers on their concerns about building maintenance and code enforcement issues, and provides support and information about HPD’s many other housing services. 

They can help you: 

• Understand your rights and responsibilities as a tenant or owner
• Learn about financial assistance for property improvements and repairs
• Register your buildings as a property owner
• Learn how to remedy housing maintenance code violations

The van is also equipped with a printer, so staff can print applications and information for New Yorkers on the spot, as well as a full supply of up-to-date informational materials on housing resources and programs. Events are confirmed on a weekly basis, including the following upcoming events.

Please visit https://www.nyc.gov/site/hpd/events/index.page for a calendar of events and updates.

HPD Act Now Series

HPD, in collaboration with NYC Accelerator, presents Act Now! This event series will explore LL97, how it affects affordable housing, and share ways owners and managers can get started on compliance before the 2024 deadline.

RSVP here for all May and June events.

New York City Housing and Vacancy Survey (NYCHVS)

We are writing to request your help for the New York City Housing and Vacancy Survey (NYCHVS). The NYCHVS is conducted by the Census Bureau on behalf of the City of New York and provides invaluable data on a wide range of issues that are critical for the City. 
 
One or more units in your building may be included in our survey, and Census Bureau’s field representatives will be contacting residents of selected units to conduct in-person interviews. If a Census Bureau representative identifies themselves to request access your building, please help us out! These in-person interviews are crucial to the NYCHVS.

Interviews are running currently and for the next few months. All field representatives from the Census Bureau follow careful procedures to protect the health and safety of everyone they interact with. We rely on representatives from the Census Bureau because of their obligation to protect respondents’ privacy and confidentiality in their work.
 
You are a large part of what makes New York City a place that millions are proud to call home. You provide most of the City’s housing and are the engine that keeps our city running and its residents in safe, dependable homes. We hope we can count on your support toward helping us build a better city for current New Yorkers and future generations to come. 
 
To learn more about the NYCHVS, please visit our NYCHVS website or call 311. Thank you in advance for your help and for contributing to making New York City a place that millions of people want to make home!