NYC Heat and AC Help for Tenants: Your 2026–27 Heat Season Rights and the New Cooling Law
Heat season in New York City started on October 1 and runs through May 31. If your radiators are cold or the hot water runs lukewarm, the law is on your side. There's a simple process to get it fixed, and you don't need a lawyer for most of it.
There's also news on the other end of the thermometer. The City Council passed a law in 2026 that will, for the first time, require landlords to provide cooling in bedrooms. It doesn't kick in for a few years, though, and the timeline confuses a lot of tenants. Here's what's true now and what changes later.
What Your Landlord Owes You in Heat Season
From October 1 through May 31, owners of NYC residential buildings must keep apartments at these minimums:
Daytime (6 a.m. to 10 p.m.): At least 68°F inside, whenever it's below 55°F outside.
Overnight (10 p.m. to 6 a.m.): At least 62°F inside, no matter what the outside temperature is.
Hot water: Year-round, 365 days a year, at a constant minimum of 120°F.
That overnight rule surprises people. On a mild 58-degree October night, your apartment still has to be at least 62°F.
How to Get Your Heat Turned On
1. Tell your landlord or super first. Text or email so you have a written record with the date and time. HPD says this is the fastest way to solve most problems.
2. If nothing happens, file a 311 complaint. Call 311 (TTY 212-504-4115) or use 311 Online or the app. You can file anonymously. If you do, the inspector will pick a random apartment in your building to check.
Once you complain, HPD tries to reach your landlord and may call you to ask if the heat is back. If it isn't, an inspector comes out and measures the temperature inside and out. If the readings break the rules above, the building gets a violation.
3. Be home if you can, and keep a log. If the inspector comes and you're not there, they'll leave a card and try another apartment. In the meantime, write down the temperature in your apartment a few times a day. A cheap thermometer and phone photos work fine.
4. Check your building's record. On HPD Online you can see open heat and hot water violations, track your complaint, and find out if HPD has already sued the owner over heat. The Litigation tab shows that.
When the Landlord Still Won't Fix It
If the owner ignores a violation, HPD's Emergency Repair Program (ERP) can hire a private contractor to restore heat or hot water. The city then bills the owner for the repair plus fees. Unpaid charges can become a lien on the property. You don't pay for this.
You can also take your landlord to Housing Court yourself with an HP action, a case that asks a judge to order repairs. Go to the Housing Court in your borough and ask the clerk to start one. Bring your landlord's name and address, a description of the problem, and copies of any complaints you've sent.
The filing fee is $45. If you can't afford it, ask for "poor person's relief" forms. If the judge approves them, you won't pay the fee.
NYCHA Residents: Different Phone Number
If you live in public housing, report heat and hot water outages to NYCHA directly. The Customer Contact Center is open 24/7 at (718) 707-7771, or you can use the MyNYCHA app or website to open a repair ticket. NYCHA also posts current building heat outages online, so you can check whether your building already has an open outage.
Staying Safe While You Wait
If you're using a space heater, plug it directly into the wall, not an extension cord. Never leave it running unattended, especially around kids, and unplug it when you leave the room or go to sleep. Make sure your smoke alarm works. Never use a gas stove or oven to heat your apartment.
The New NYC Cooling Law: What It Does and When
In 2026, the City Council passed Local Law 23 of 2026. It adds cooling to the same section of the housing code that covers heat and hot water. Here's the timeline:
January 1, 2028: The city has to post a notice online explaining the new rules and how to opt in.
March 1, 2028: Tenants can start opting in, room by room. Covered rooms are bedrooms, meaning any room used as a permanent occupant's main sleeping place. Requirements take effect 60 days after you opt in. New leases and renewals from this date must also say who pays the electricity for any cooling system.
March 1, 2028 to September 1, 2029: Landlords must give tenants a copy of the official notice and post it in the building.
June 1, 2030: For tenants who opted in, landlords must provide cooling that can keep each covered room at 78°F or cooler. This applies during "cooling season," June 15 through September 15.
Some details matter before you opt in:
It isn't automatic. You have to request it through the city's process once it opens.
Rent-regulated tenants: If your landlord installs a new cooling system in your rent-stabilized or rent-controlled unit, your legal rent may go up. You'll have to consent to the work and any related charges under state rules. Read the city's notice carefully before agreeing.
Existing central AC: Starting in 2030, buildings that already have central AC or permanent units must keep them working. If the owner controls a central system, it has to provide adequate cooling during cooling season.
NYCHA has to publish a comprehensive cooling plan by January 1, 2028.
So for summer 2027, nothing in this law requires your landlord to give you an AC yet. During heat waves, call 311 or check the city's cooling center finder for the nearest air-conditioned spot. Check in on older neighbors, too.
Related Guides
If heating trouble comes with rent or bill stress, these New York guides list local churches and nonprofits that can help:
Closing Thoughts
Heat is a legal right in New York City, not a favor from your landlord. Write down the temperatures, file with 311, and use HPD's tools, which often get the boiler fixed fast. Cooling is coming too, but not until 2030, and only if you opt in. Mark March 2028 on your calendar so you don't miss the window.
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