To report a problem in an apartment, you must provide your contact information.

Common apartment maintenance complaints include:

• Unsanitary conditions, such as mold, sewage, or pests, including mice, bed bugs, or roaches
• Water leaks, holes, cracks, or peeling paint on walls or ceilings
• Doors and locks that are broken or missing
• Windows that are broken or stuck open or closed
• No heat or hot water
• Electrical problems, such as no lighting, defective outlets or switches, exposed or illegal wiring, or wet light fixtures
• Cooking gas that has been shut off
• Doorbells, buzzers, or intercoms that are broken or missing
• Floors that are damaged
• Chipped, peeling, flaking potential lead paint
• Sinks, bathtubs, showers, toilets, or other plumbing fixtures that are broken or defective
• Safety issues, such as broken or blocked fire escapes, or broken or missing smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors, or window guards

Some public area complaints require contact information.

Common maintenance complaints in a public area of a residential building include:

• Unsanitary conditions, such as mold, sewage, or pests, including mice, bed bugs, or roaches
• Water leaks, holes, cracks, or peeling paint on walls or ceilings
• Doors and locks that are broken or missing
• Windows that are broken or stuck open or closed
• Elevators that are dirty or have broken mirror or lights
• Electrical problems, such as no lighting, defective outlets or switches, exposed or illegal wiring, or wet light fixtures
• Doorbells, buzzers, or intercoms that are broken or missing
• Floors or stairs that are damaged
• Sinks, bathtubs, showers, toilets, or other plumbing fixtures that are broken or defective
• Safety issues, such as broken or blocked fire escapes, or broken or missing sprinkler system, or window guards

Some building-wide complaints require contact information.

Common residential building-wide maintenance complaints include:

• ​Unsanitary conditions, such as garbage and recycling storage
• Cooking gas that has been shut off
• No heat or hot water
• No water
• Power outage
• Safety issues, such as broken fire escapes or sprinkler system

What Happens Next

The Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) investigates a landlord complaint and tickets owners who break the law.

Due to Coronavirus (COVID-19) health and safety concerns, Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) staff will wear masks if inspection is required/attempted. Tenants are also asked to wear masks during any inspection.

HPD will attempt to contact your building's managing agent to advise them that a complaint has been filed and that a violation may be issued if the condition is not corrected immediately. HPD will also attempt to call you back to see if the condition was corrected. If you indicate that the condition was corrected, HPD will close the complaint.

Learn more about HPD complaints and inspections.

Learn more about housing quality and safety issues on the HPD website.

Inspections

If it was not corrected or HPD cannot reach you, a uniformed Code Enforcement inspector will be sent to inspect the reported condition. If English is not your primary language, let the Inspector know and they can call a translator to help.

The owner/agent is not notified of the inspection date. Inspectors will also check for the following violations: smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, lead-based paint (if there is a child under six), window guards (if there is a child under 11), double cylinder locks, and bars on the fire escape windows.

Housing Court

If you made a complaint and your landlord didn't fix the problem, you can take legal action in Housing Court. Document all contact with your landlord and HPD about the conditions in your apartment so you can use it in court.

To learn more about Housing Court, go to the Housing Court for Tenants and Landlords page.

Tenant Harassment

It is illegal for building owners to force tenants to leave their apartments or surrender their rights. If you are a tenant in an apartment in New York City who is being harassed by your landlord, you can get information and help.

To learn more about Tenant Harassment, go to the Tenant Harassment page.

Additional Assistance

Rent Regulated Apartments

There is additional support available for tenants in rent-controlled or rent-stabilized apartments. To learn more, go to the Rent Regulated Apartments page.

Housing Rules

For more information about residential property maintenance requirements and tenant rights and responsibilities, use the Housing Rules for Owners and Tenants page.

Complaint Copies

Copies of maintenance complaints are available for both Tenants and Landlords. For additional questions about a complaint or to get copies of complaints, go to the HPD Building Information and Code Enforcement Borough Service Centers page.

The Housing Maintenance Code does not require buildings to have air conditioning. The City does not issue violations for this condition.

Tenants in rent-controlled or rent-stabilized apartments can get information and assistance with a landlord provided air conditioner that no longer works. To learn more, go to the Rent Regulated Apartments page.

Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Rental and cooperative building owners are required by law to provide and properly install at least one approved carbon monoxide alarm within 15 feet of the primary entrance to each sleeping room. This applies to all one- and two-family homes and residential buildings with three or more units.

Carbon monoxide detectors are required to be replaced as their useful life expires. After this replacement, landlords are required to replace carbon monoxide detectors as their useful life expires according to the manufacturer's instructions, based on the original date of installation. The replacement device must be a model that has an end-of-life alarm.

While owners are required to install carbon monoxide detectors, tenants are responsible for maintaining them and changing the batteries. Tenants must pay the owner $25 when the owner installs a new carbon monoxide detector, replaces a carbon monoxide detector that has reached the end of its useful life, or replaces one that the tenant lost or damaged. Tenants have up to one year to make the payment.

Smoke Detectors

Local Law 62 (1981) requires rental and cooperative building owners to install one or more smoke detectors in each unit. It is the tenant's responsibility to maintain them. The City investigates housing complaints and gives tickets to owners who break the law.

Smoke detectors should be placed between sleeping areas and the rest of the unit. If there is more than 15 feet between sleeping areas, a smoke detector should be provided for each sleeping area. If there are multiple levels in the unit, smoke detectors should be provided for each level. If mounted on the ceiling, the edge of the smoke detector should be no more than 4 inches from the wall. If mounted on the wall, the edge of the smoke detector should be between 4 and 12 inches from the ceiling.

Learn more about carbon monoxide and smoke detectors.