October 2026 Bulletin to Property Owners

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Dear Property Owners, 
  
The 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. Visit HPD's webpage  to read this bulletin (and past bulletins) in other languages. 
 
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.

IN THIS BULLETIN
•    Heat Season Started October 1st
•    Preparing for Heat Season
•    Civil Penalties and Inspection Fees
•    Steam Radiator Inspection Requirements
•    Required Boiler Inspections
•    Tips to Identify and Fix Common Window Issues
•    Natural Gas Detecting Device Requirements
•    Gas Safety
•    NYC Accelerator Expo – October 14th
•    J-51 Tax Exemption and Abatement Program Updates


HEAT SEASON STARTED OCTOBER 1st 
 
Under Housing Maintenance Code section 27-2029, building owners are legally required to provide heat to their tenants. Hot water must be provided 365 days per year at a constant minimum temperature of 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Heat must be provided between October 1st and May 31st, also known as “Heat Season”, under the following conditions:

Failure to comply will lead to violations. Violations must be corrected within 24 hours and may result in civil penalties, heat inspection fees, and selection for enhanced enforcement under the Heat Sensors Program.

WHAT LANDLORDS CAN DO TO PREPARE FOR HEAT SEASON
 
To prepare for the cold weather expected during heat season, landlords can take a proactive role by doing the following:
•    Inspect steam radiators: Check valves, vents, and traps for leaks or blockages to ensure efficient heating.
•    Service the boiler: Complete all required professional inspections and safety checks before temperatures drop (see below for more information on requirements).
•    Identify and fix common window issues that cause heat loss: Fix air leaks and drafts, failed weatherstripping, damaged caulking, single-pane glass windows, and broken Insulated Glass Units (IGUs).  Encourage tenants to allow the removal of air conditioners or to cover air conditioners.
•    Update contact info:
o    Provide tenants with current phone numbers about who to contact – superintendents or managing agents or you - and encourage them to immediately report heating outages.
o    Being properly registered with HPD with the name of landlord/managing agent, and telephone numbers and email addresses where an owner or managing agent may be reasonably reached at all times is important – HPD will try to reach you before conducting an inspection. The easiest way to register is by using HPD's Property Registration Online System (PROS). 
•    If there is a known problem: Contact tenants through building postings, telephone calls, emails, or other methods to inform them when you are aware of a problem, what you are doing to remediate the issue, and when you expect heat to be restored.

Civil Penalties
HPD may start a court proceeding related to heat violations or hot water violations.  You can see if there is an open heat and water case at your property through HPDONLINE under the litigation tab.   
The agency can seek the following penalties, effective on the posting date of the Notice of Violation until the date that the violation is corrected:
•    $250-$500 dollars per day for each initial heat or hot water violation
•    $500-$1,000 per day for each subsequent violation at the same building during the same and/or the next calendar year from the initial violation or, during the same and/or the next heat season
The Notice of Violation is posted in the vestibule of the building on the day of the inspection.  A Report of Violation will also be mailed to you at the address of your managing agent or responsible party.
If the owner fails to pay the Court ordered civil penalties, HPD will enter a judgment against the owner and the property and seek to enforce that judgment.
 
Eligibility for payment in satisfaction of civil penalties
Some owners may be eligible to satisfy the potential civil penalty by submitting a $250 payment with a timely Notice of Correction. The Report of Violation that you receive in the mail will clearly indicate whether the violation is eligible for payment in satisfaction of civil penalties, based on whether the heat violation is the first such violation of the current or prior heat season, or the hot water violation is the first such violation of the current or previous calendar year. An owner who chooses to submit a Notice of Correction and payment in satisfaction may do so by mail or by using eCertification. The condition must be fixed within 24 hours of the violation posting (the same as the inspection date), and the $250 payment must be made within 10 days. Payment can be made via credit card or debit card (there is a 2% convenience fee for credit cards), or by certified check or money order. If the Notice of Correction and payment are not received within the 10-day period, HPD may pursue an order to correct and recoup civil penalties in Housing Court.
 
Inspection Fee
HPD will charge a $200 fee for all inspections after the first two that result in a heat violation within the same heat season (October through May) or a hot water violation within a calendar year. This fee is in addition to any civil penalties that may be imposed by the Housing Court. This fee is not paid directly to HPD but will be billed to the owner through the Department of Finance on the quarterly bill following the inspection. All unpaid fees become a debt owed by the owner and a lien upon the premises. The tax lien will bear interest and may be sold and/or foreclosed to collect the amount owed through the City’s Tax Lien Sale.
 
INSPECTION OF STEAM RADIATORS  
In the May 5, 2026 Bulletin to Property Owners, HPD notified you about the requirements around the inspection of steam radiators. For details about the requirements, see our webpage on this topic.  As a reminder, the main requirements are:
 
•    Steam heating systems must be inspected at least once every two years in dwelling units where there is at least one steam radiator and where a child under the age of six resides, and common areas of those buildings. 
•    Beginning January 2027 and every January thereafter, between January 1st and January 16th, owners are required to provide tenants with the Annual Notice for Inspection of Steam Radiators – Inquiry Regarding A Child.
•    Tenants are required to complete this form and return it to their landlord by February 15th each year and provide access for inspection and repair when required.
•    The owner must maintain records indicating that Annual Notice process was completed and the findings of that process (Annual Notice Owner Summary of Delivery and Response Tracking Form, or a similar tool) to maintain your records for sending the Annual Notice and tracking the information received back from tenants.
•    No later than March 1st of each year, the property owner/agent must notify HPD, using the Tenant No Response Form, about each apartment where an owner does not receive a written or verbal response from the occupant by February 15th and does not otherwise have knowledge of a child under the age of six in residence. 
•    Steam radiator inspections must be performed by an individual who is qualified to do so as an “Inspector”, as defined under NYC Administrative Code §27-2056.21. 
o    The individual performing the steam radiator inspection is required to complete and submit to the owner an Affidavit of Qualification of Inspector Form, which is valid for the calendar year.•    
    
    If the superintendent does the inspection, a registered owner or managing agent of the building and the superintendent that is conducting the inspection must sign a Certification of Building Owner and Building Superintendent Regarding Inspection(s) of Steam Radiator(s) Form confirming that both have read and understand the Steam Radiator Inspection Training Manual  and are thereby qualified to conduct the inspections.
    These affidavits must be maintained with any records related to the inspections conducted by the signing superintendent.
 
The individual conducting the inspection must complete the Record of Steam Radiator Inspection Form for each apartment inspected and a separate one for the common area inspection. 
•    Specific steps to follow if an uncontrolled steam leak or severe corrosion is identified or the inspection reveals a defect or damage of a steam radiator are outlined on HPD’s webpage.

VIOLATIONS AND PENALTIES
Failure to maintain and provide records in accordance with §27-2056.23 shall result in a civil penalty of not more than $500.   HPD may conduct inspections at any time in response to complaints and issue violations appropriately. 
 
REQUIRED BOILER INSPECTIONS: DEPARTMENT OF BUILDINGS
  
Please visit DOB’s Boiler Compliance webpage for important information on DOB’s boiler inspection and reporting requirement regulations. 
 
ADDITIONAL NYC RESOURCES ON BOILERS
 
DOB’s  FAQs  for answers to common questions people have about boilers and violations.
 
Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Boiler Registration Renewal: (718) 595-3855.

TIPS: IDENTIFY AND FIX COMMON WINDOW ISSUES 
Here are some common causes of heat loss and how to fix them.
 
Common Causes of Heat Loss
•    Air Leaks and Drafts: Gaps form around the frame as houses settle or as wood and vinyl expand and contract over time.
•    Failed Weatherstripping: The flexible seals at the top, bottom, and sides of operable windows wear down or crack, letting warm air slip outside.
•    Damaged Caulking: Exterior caulk surrounding the window frame disintegrates, creating direct pathways for air leakage.
•    Single-Pane Glass: Older, single-layer glass lacks thermal resistance, acting as a direct conductor that transfers indoor warmth straight to the cold outdoors.
•    Broken Insulated Glass Units (IGUs): Double- or triple-pane windows rely on a sealed gap filled with insulating gas; if the seal breaks, condensation or fogging occurs and thermal performance drops.
 
How to Fix Window Heat Loss
•    Re-caulk Frames: Apply fresh outdoor-rated silicone caulk around the exterior and interior window frame gaps.
•    Replace Weatherstripping: Install new foam tape or interlocking weatherstripping strips around sashes to restore a tight operational seal.
•    Add Window Insulation Film: Apply a clear plastic shrink-film kit to create an interior dead-air insulating barrier over the glass.
•    Use Thermal Curtains: Hang heavy, tightly woven thermal drapes and close them at dusk to trap a pocket of warmth over the window recess.
•    Upgrade Windows: Replace old, degraded window units completely with modern double- or triple-pane, Low-E coated glass certified by Energy Star. Property owners are encouraged to take advantage of the J-51 R tax exemption and abatement program, which supports residential rehabilitations and multiple-dwelling conversions.


NATURAL GAS DETECTING DEVICE 
Local Law 102 of 2025 requires owners of all multiple dwellings (Class A and Class B Multiple Dwellings) and one- and two-family homes (non-owner occupied) that have gas piping, to provide and install, by January 1, 2027, at least one approved and operational natural gas detector pursuant to the requirements of the New York City Building Code.  A posting notice[AS1] is also required related to the provision of these devices.
Owners may install a device that combines smoke, carbon monoxide and gas detecting capabilities instead of three separate devices.  When detectors are combined, the alarms' installation must conform to applicable requirements to be compliant.
More information on device requirements, record keeping for installation and maintenance, and exemptions from this requirement can be found here.  You can also visit DOB’s FAQs: Natural Gas Detection Devices.


GAS SAFETY
Gas leaks are extremely dangerous and can create fires and explosions. Buildings which have gas services are required to maintain that service safely.  Property owners are required by New York City law to post a  Suspected Gas Leaks Notice  for tenants about how to identify gas odors and how to act once they believe that there is a gas leak. HPD will issue a violation for failure to post the required notice.  The notice advises tenants that if they smell gas, they should go outside and call 911 and the utility company to report a gas emergency.  Owners must enter the appropriate utility information onto the required posting notice: National Grid, which services Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island, can be reached at 718-643-4050, and Con Edison customers can call 1-800-75-CONED (1-800-752-6633) to report a gas emergency.  
 
For more information and resources on gas safety and awareness, please visit National Grid’s Natural Gas Safety or download a copy of their New York City Gas Safety Brochure. 
  
It is illegal and dangerous to make changes to a gas system – including adding facilities such as gas dryers – without filing a permit with and its approval by the Department of Buildings, or to repair gas service that has been shut off by the DOB, the Fire Department, or a utility company. Such action can result in significant fines and a loss of service for the entire building.  Gas restoration, new gas service, or replacements of gas services should always be completed by a licensed plumber.  Property owners are required to act to restore gas for heat and hot water or gas for cooking immediately once any of those services are disrupted. 
 
Attend the NYC Accelerator Expo on Oct 14th to start your building's next energy project.
 
The NYC Accelerator invites building owners, condo/co-op board members, and property managers to participate in their upcoming (free) Expo. At the Expo, participants can engage with trusted advisors from the Accelerator, as well as with vetted contractors, utility company representatives, and city staff from the Dep. of Buildings and NYSERDA.
No matter where you are, the Expo can help move your energy efficiency project forward.
Wednesday, Oct 14th, 12PM, at the Metropolitan Pavillion. Register here.

GET READY!
The NYC City Council is set to cast its final vote on extending the J-51 tax exemption and abatement program. If approved, the extension will introduce new updates to support residential rehabilitations and multiple-dwelling conversions. Projects completed between June 29, 2026, and June 30, 2036, would qualify for the program.
Learn more on HPD’s website: https://www.nyc.gov/site/hpd/services-and-information/tax-incentives-J-51-reform.page