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New York, NY — Today, Council Members Crystal Hudson, Keith Powers, Pierina Sanchez, Gale Brewer, and Oswald Feliz will introduce a bill to raise the minimum indoor temperatures required of property owners during heat season.
Between October 1 and May 31 (aka “heat season”), all residential building owners are currently required to maintain indoor temperatures of at least 68 degrees Fahrenheit between 6am and 1 pm when the outside temperature drops below 55 degrees. They are also required to maintain indoor temperatures of at least 62 degrees between 10pm and 6am regardless of the outside temperature.
This bill would raise the minimum required temperatures from 68 degrees to 70 degrees during the day and from 62 degrees to 66 degrees overnight.
This effort comes on the heels of the January 2022 Twin Parks fire, which due to a malfunctioning electric space heater resulted in 17 fatalities. Tenants at a building owned by the same owners as Twin Parks have complained about inadequate heat and said they use space heaters or electric fireplaces to keep warm in the winter. To date, the Fire Department of New York identified at least nine fires in 2022 linked to space heaters, on track to outpace the 11 fires from space heaters in 2021.
“We must ensure the Council takes all steps possible to prevent another tragedy like the one we saw last January in the Bronx. While this bill will ensure residents whose landlords already turn on the heat can stay warm during the winter by providing suitable minimum temperatures, I will also work closely with HPD to ensure it holds predatory landlords accountable and provides a more effective way for tenants to complain about a lack of heat and address it in a matter of hours, not days,” said Council Member Crystal Hudson.
“The recent fire in the Bronx was an unspeakable tragedy that devastated so many New Yorkers’ lives. In the wake of this horrific incident, I am proud to join Council Member Hudson to strengthen our city’s fire safety measures by making apartments warmer and tenants less reliant on space heaters or other dangerous devices. It’s imperative that the Council is taking any and all action to protect against any future tragedies,” said Majority Leader Keith Powers.
“The tragic fire at Twin Parks Northwest last month has left the Bronx in mourning and scarred, and there is much work to be done in addressing the flaws that led to this tragedy, including insufficient heating in homes. Across the City, there are landlords who choose to provide the bare minimum amount of heating, and insufficient heating during the coldest temperatures, leaving too many to resort to dangerous space heaters. I am proud to co-sponsor this legislation with my colleagues to increase minimum required temperatures during winter months. Tenants should not live in frigid conditions that place them in harm’s way. Raising minimum required temperatures will hold landlords to a higher standard and keep tenants warmer,” said Housing and Buildings Committee Chair Pierina Sanchez.
“In response to widespread concerns about heat, as Borough President I worked with then-Council Member Jumaane Williams to pass Local Law 86 of 2017, which increased the minimum nighttime temperature in homes during Heat Season from 55 to 62 degrees, regardless of outside temperature. As people are spending more time at home and winters are getting harsher, today I am introducing legislation in partnership with colleagues to increase minimum temperatures to ensure buildings are heated adequately for seniors and young people, who are generally more temperature sensitive,” said Council Member Gale A. Brewer.
“New York falls behind its neighboring states with minimum temperature requirements during heat season. This forces millions of families to rely on potentially dangerous space heaters to survive the cold in their own home. Which NO family should have to endure. The loss of life associated with New Yorkers trying to keep their homes habitable in intense cold is appalling, especially as we saw with the tragedy at Twin Parks in my own district which resulted in seventeen unnecessary deaths. This bill helps New York take a step in the right direction to protect our vulnerable communities and ensure that folks can remain comfortable and safe in their own homes,” said Council Member Oswald Feliz.
311 received 25.6% more heat related complaints between October 1, 2021 and January 19, 2022 than during the same period last year. A recent CityLimits analysis found that most heat and hot water complaints between January 2019 February 2022 were in communities of color and areas populated by lower-income tenants.
“The number of tenants we hear from who are using space heaters, stovetops and ovens to heat their homes is appalling. The current threshold of 68 degrees is uncomfortable for many, and dangerous for many elderly individuals and young children. After the horrible tragedy in the Bronx, it is clear that adequate heat is a life or death issue. Raising the minimum temperature will save lives,” said Noelle Francois, Executive Director of Heat Seek.
The bill would take effect 120 days after becoming law.
