New City Council bill will increase heating in residential buildings

The New York City Council is calling to increase heating in residential buildings. On Thursday, Council member Crystal Hudson introduced a bill that would require landlords to raise the minimum temperature during the heating season, which begins in October and ends in May. 

Under the current law, building owners are required to maintain apartment buildings at 68 degrees during the day and at least 62 degrees at night. The new bill will raise the minimum temperature requirements to 70 and 66 degrees respectively. 

“It (the bill) builds on the excellent work of my colleagues, Council member Brewer and now public advocate Jumaane Williams, who raised the minimum temperatures a few years back,” said Council member Hudson. We have since learned that the minimum temperatures are still too low, prompting many New Yorkers to use potentially dangerous heat sources like stoves or faulty space heaters to keep warm.”

Council member Hudson mentioned the deadly Bronx apartment fire in her speech. The fire killed 17 people, including eight children. A month before the fire took place, residents of the building complained about a broken self-closing door and a malfunctioning radiator, The Real Deal reports. 

According to the New York Times, the fire started in a duplex apartment on the second floor. Mayor Eric Adams confirmed that the fire was likely caused by the space heater, which has been running for several days uninterrupted. 

In her speech announcing this bill, Hudson promised to “work closely with the Department of Housing Preservation and Development to ensure it holds predatory landlords accountable.”

Resources:

“Council bill demands landlords turn up thermostats,” by Joe Lovinger (The Real Deal, 2022)

“Bronx building where deadly fire occurred had faulty doors, heat issues,” by Suzannah Cavanaugh (The Real Deal, 2022)

“Apartment Building Fire in Bronx Is New York City’s Deadliest Blaze in Decades,” (The New York Times, 2022)

“City Council eyes boosting minimum heat rules,” by Rich Calder (New York Post, 2022)