My apartment has no heat or hot water.

Everything you do after this depends on having evidence. Housing Court and HPD inspections both need documentation. A verbal complaint to your landlord will not hold up if this ends up in court.

1. Get a thermometer. A cheap one from a dollar store or hardware store is fine.
2. Take temperature readings inside your apartment, and outside if you can (your phone's weather app works). Write down the date, time, indoor temp, and outdoor temp.
3. Take readings a few times a day, especially during legally-required heat hours.
4. Photograph your thermometer next to something showing the time — a phone clock, wall clock, or newspaper.
5. If hot water is the issue, time how long the water runs cold and note the warmest temperature it reaches.

A running log with every reading. Met Council on Housing has a free Tenant Heat Log PDF designed to be accepted as evidence in Housing Court.

Most heat and hot water problems are fixed at this step. Many landlords respond once they know there's a problem. Just as important: creating a written record protects you if things escalate. A phone call or text to your super doesn't count as the same kind of evidence as a dated written notice.

1. Write a short, factual message to your landlord or management company. Email is fine. If you don't have an email, send a letter by USPS Certified Mail with Return Receipt — a few dollars, but proof they received it.
2. Fill in your details below, then copy the message and send it.
3. Keep a copy of what you sent and any response.

A responsive landlord will acknowledge your message within a day and send someone to fix the problem. If you don't hear back within 24 hours, or if the problem continues, go to Step 3.

This is the step that triggers the city to send an inspector. A 311 complaint creates an official record, gets HPD involved, and can result in a legal violation issued against your landlord.

• By phone: Call 311. If you're deaf or hard of hearing, use TTY at (212) 504-4115
• Online: Go to portal.311.nyc.gov and search for "heat" or "hot water."
• Mobile app: Download the NYC 311 app (iOS or Android) and file from there.

• HPD may call your landlord first and give them a chance to fix the problem.
• If the problem isn't fixed, HPD sends an inspector. For winter heat complaints, inspectors often arrive within 24–48 hours.
• The inspector may arrive unannounced. If you won't be home, ask a neighbor to let them in or leave a note with a phone number.
• If the inspector confirms the problem, they'll issue a violation against the landlord. This carries civil penalties of $250–$500 per day for a first violation, and $500–$1,000 per day for repeat violations.

You need to know whether HPD has actually inspected, whether a violation was issued, and what the landlord has done in response. This is also the moment to decide whether to escalate.

1. Go to HPDOnline and enter your building's address.
2. Look for open violations, especially under "heat" or "hot water." If your complaint resulted in a violation, you'll see it here.
3. Note the violation number, date issued, and classification. Heat and hot water violations are typically Class C — immediately hazardous.
4. Save a screenshot or print the page.

Violations typically appear online within a few days of the inspection. If your complaint doesn't show up at all, the inspection may not have happened yet, or the inspector didn't find a violation — in which case, call 311 again and request another inspection.

By this point, you've given your landlord multiple chances and the city has been involved. If you're still without heat or hot water, you have stronger options — but most involve legal or advocacy help, and you shouldn't try them alone.

Free, staffed by trained volunteers, and the best starting point for figuring out what to do next. They can help you decide between the options below and point you to the right legal help.

• Phone: 212-979-0611
• Hours: Mon & Wed 1:30–8 PM, Fri 1:30–5 PM.
• Heads up: The hotline is very busy — call after 4 PM if you can, and avoid Mondays. Volunteer-staffed, so it occasionally closes on short notice.

A legal proceeding asking a judge to order your landlord to make repairs. You can file one yourself or with help from a free legal services organization. An HP Action can result in a court order forcing the landlord to fix the problem, plus fines.

NYS Homes and Community Renewal (DHCR) can order a rent reduction when essential services aren't provided. You'll need the HPD inspection report from Step 4. Use Form HHW-1 or call DHCR at 833-499-0343.

NYC's Right to Counsel program provides free lawyers to low-income tenants facing housing issues. The Met Council hotline (option A) can help you figure out if you qualify.