Property Management

Property Owner Responsibilities

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Property Owner Responsibilities

Property owners and tenants have rights and responsibilities to each other. The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) is one of many City and state agencies that enforce those responsibilities. The ABCs of Housing is designed to help property owners and tenants understand housing rules and regulations, and provide resources. Property owners are required to post a notice about the availability of the ABCs of Housing in the common area of their building. 

The ABCs of Housing

ABCs of Housing cover page

The ABCs of Housing is HPD's guide to housing rules and regulations for owners and tenants.

Owners and tenants have legal responsibilities to each other. HPD is one of many city and state agencies that enforce those responsibilities. This booklet is designed to help owners and tenants gain an understanding of the rules and regulations affecting housing, and to provide information about how to receive assistance.

Inside the guide you will find information about owners' and tenants' rights and responsibilities, staying in your apartment safely, resources for new affordable housing or rental assistance, and useful contact information for other housing related issues.

The ABCs of Housing is also available in additional languages:

Property Owner Responsibilities

Property owner responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

  • Ensuring that common areas and individual apartment units are safe and well maintained, in compliance with the Housing Maintenance Code (HMC) and Multiple Dwelling Law (MDL).
  • Providing and maintain security measures and standards related health and safety.
  • Renting only legal residential space, as defined by the Certificate of Occupancy.
  • Registering units annually with HPD for owners of residential properties with three or more residential units and owners of one- to two-family homes if neither the owner not the owner's immediate family reside at the property.
  • Registering rents annually with NYS Homes and Community Renewal if the building is rent-stabilized.
  • Posting signage and notices as required by the MDL and the Rules of the City of New York.

Notices and Bulletins to Property Owners

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02/2020 - Bulletin to Property Owners

This February 2020 Property Owners Bulletin provides information about emergency repairs, window guards annual notice, stove knob covers annual notice, bedbug annual filing, indoor allergen hazards, the Alternative Enforcement Program, and more.

It is also available in additional languages:

09/2019 - Bulletin to Property Owners

06/2019 - Bulletin to Property Owners

This Bulletin to Property Owners highlights HPD’s auditing of lead-based paint related records, a property owner’s obligations under recent anti-displacement bills and information regarding how property owners can protect tenants and their buildings during coastal storm season. It also includes reminders about lead-based paint responsibilities, annual Property Registration (required by September 1, 2019), self-closing door violations and the Annual Bedbug Filing (overdue if not already submitted).

It is also available in additional languages:

04/2019 - Maintenance Requirements Updates for Property Owners

This April 2019 Notice to Property Ownersprovides information on a property owner’s obligations on re-inspections and upgrades related to indoor allergens (also referred to as mold and pests; Local Law 55 of 2018) pertinent information on self-closing doors (Local Law 111 of 2018); and the amendment to Local Law 1 of 2004 related to lead-contaminated dust.

It is also available in additional languages:

01/2019 - Maintenance Requirements Reminders for Property Owners

This January 2019 Notice to Property Owners is a reminder to property owners about their responsibilities related to the compliance of allergen hazards (Local Law 55 of 2018), reporting bedbug activity (Local Law 69 of 2017), and the provision of stove knob covers (Local Law 117 of 2018).

It is also available in additional languages:

12/2018 - Notice to Property Owners

This December 2018 Notice to Property Owners advises property owners of their responsibility to meet upcoming deadlines and reporting requirements set forth in recent legislation on bedbugs (Local Law 69 of 2017), allergen hazards (mold and pests) (Local Law 55 of 2017), and stove knob covers (Local Law 117 of 2018). In addition, this email includes updates on the Certificate of No Harassment Pilot Program (Local Law 1 of 2018).

10/2018 - Notice to Property Owners

This October 2018 Notice to Property Owners provides information on an owner’s obligations with respect to recent legislation on stove knob covers (Local Law 117 of 2018), Certification of No Harassment (Local Law 1 of 2018), indoor allergens (also referred to as mold and pests; Local Law 55 of 2017), and bedbugs (Local Law 69 of 2017).

01/2018 - Notice on Code Enforcement Issues

Lead Briefing: February 2019

Lead Briefing: September 2019

Lead Briefing: December 2019

Lead Briefing: January 2020