No Heat in Your NYC Apartment? Heat Season Rules and What to Do
NYC heat season runs October 1 to May 31. Learn the 68°F and 62°F rules, how to report no heat to 311, and how to stay warm safely while you wait.
The first cold night of fall is when many New York renters find out how their building's boiler really works. If you've woken up to a cold radiator and typed "no heat in apartment NYC" into your phone, you're not alone, and you have more rights than you might think.
New York City has a legal "heat season" that runs from October 1 through May 31 . During those months, building owners must keep apartments above set minimum temperatures. This guide explains what the rules are, what to do when the heat goes out, and how to stay warm safely while it's being fixed.
The temperatures and steps below come from New York City's Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) and apply to residential buildings in the five boroughs. Other cities and states set their own rules, so if you rent outside NYC, check your lease and local rules.
HPD splits the day into two windows, and each has its own minimum indoor temperature.
When the temperature outside falls below 55°F, the temperature inside your apartment must be at least 68°F . On a mild October afternoon above 55°F outside, your landlord isn't required to run the heat during the day.
Overnight, the inside temperature must be at least 62°F , no matter how warm or cold it is outside.
Hot water isn't seasonal. Owners must provide hot water 365 days a year at a constant minimum of 120°F at the tap.
HPD's advice is to contact your landlord first. Many heat problems are simple: a boiler that tripped overnight, a stuck radiator valve, or a thermostat set too low. A quick message to the super often fixes things the same day.
When you reach out, put it in writing, even if you also call. A text, email or message through your building's portal gives you a dated record. Say what's wrong, when it started and which rooms are affected. For example: "No heat in apartment 4B since Tuesday night. Bedroom thermometer read 58°F at 11 PM."
If the problem doesn't go away quickly, start keeping a simple log. Tenant lawyers often ask for a heat log, and it makes your complaint much harder to dismiss.
Take readings in the morning, the evening and late at night, since the rules change at 6 AM and 10 PM. A few days of consistent notes tells a clear story.
If your landlord doesn't fix the problem, HPD says to file a complaint with 311. You can:
HPD says tenants can file heat complaints anonymously if they choose. After you file, HPD contacts the building's owner or managing agent. If the problem continues, an inspector may visit. If you miss the inspector, they leave a card, and HPD notes that they may inspect another apartment in the building instead.
You can check the status of your complaint, and see any open violations on your building, on HPDONLINE . It's also a useful way to look up a building's history before you sign a lease.
If the whole building is cold, each household can file its own complaint. It's a good way to make sure the problem is on record for every affected apartment.
My apartment is 66°F at 3 PM and it's 60°F outside. Is that a violation?
No. The daytime 68°F minimum only applies when it's below 55°F outside. Keep logging, because it may become one if the weather turns colder.
Does this apply if I'm subletting or renting a room?
The heat rules are about the building, so the owner has to meet them whoever is living in the apartment. If you rent from a leaseholder, tell them too so they can contact the owner.
When HPD finds a violation, the owner has to restore heat. HPD lists these civil penalties:
If an owner doesn't make repairs, HPD's Emergency Repair Program can hire a contractor to do the work and bill the owner. Unpaid charges can become liens on the property. You don't have to follow any of this yourself, but knowing it's there helps when a landlord says the heat is "not a big deal."
Most heat problems end with a call or a 311 complaint. If yours doesn't, New York City tenants can start an HP action in Housing Court to ask a judge to order repairs or restore services like heat and hot water.
Legal Services NYC suggests these steps before filing:
Legal Services NYC lists a $45 filing fee and says you can ask to have it waived if you can't afford it. JustFix.nyc, a nonprofit site, can help you write the repair letter. Fees and procedures can change, so confirm the details with the court or a tenant organization before you file.
New York State's warranty of habitability (Real Property Law § 235-b) says landlords promise that rented homes are fit to live in and free of conditions dangerous to tenants' health or safety. The law says any lease clause waiving this protection is void. If you're unsure whether to hold back rent or take other steps, talk to a tenant lawyer or a tenant organization first, since doing it wrong can put you at risk of an eviction case.
Cold apartments lead to risky shortcuts. The FDNY shares these heating safety tips every winter:
Some simple, low-cost habits also help: close curtains at night, use draft stoppers at the bottom of doors, and layer up with blankets.
If you smell gas, think a carbon monoxide alarm is going off for a real reason, or see smoke or fire, leave the apartment and call 911. Heat complaints go to 311, but emergencies go to 911.
If you're looking for a new place this fall or winter, a few questions can save you a cold season:
It's also worth reading your lease closely for anything about heating, utilities and who pays for what.
From October 1 to May 31, NYC landlords must keep apartments at least 68°F during the day when it's below 55°F outside, and at least 62°F overnight. If your heat is out, tell your landlord in writing, keep a heat log, and file with 311 if it isn't fixed. Stay warm safely in the meantime, and never use your oven for heat. Rules differ outside New York City, so check your lease and local rules.
Check a lease before you sign with Snestico's Lease Checker, or search homes and rooms in New York with Snesty.