Housing code violation info available on internet

Real Estate Weekly, Jan 2, 2002

NYC Housing Preservation and Development Commissioner Jerilyn Perine announced that Housing Maintenance Code violation information is now available to the public, on-line, free of charge at www.nyc.gov/ hpd.

"Tenants, building owners, and any interested members of the public will be able to see violations on privately-owned residential apartment buildings citywide," said Perine.

By typing in the address of the building they are interested in, users will be able to see the total number and description of Housing Maintenance Code violations. Such violations may include insufficient heat and hot water, peeling lead-based paint, vermin, and water leaks.

Building owners of privately-owned buildings are required by law to maintain apartments in habitable condition and provide tenants with heat during the winter heat season (October 1 through May 31) and hot water 365 days a year. Failure to meet these standards can result in violations which are placed by inspectors from HPD's division of code enforcement.

If a building owner fails to maintain apartments and provide essential services, tenants may report the condition to HPD's central complaint bureau at (212) 824-4328. For the hearing impaired, the TTY number is (212) 863-5504. The CCB takes calls 24-hours a day, seven-days a week.

Building owners may clear their records of violations by certifying that the violations were corrected within the required time period. After that time period has passed, building owners may file a dismissal request form with their borough code enforcement office. Building owners can also get technical advice from code inspectors in HPD's borough code enforcement or HPD's borough anti-abandonment offices about how to correct violations in their buildings or enter into voluntary repair agreements.