Property Management

Property Owner Responsibilities

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Property Owner Responsibilities

*Important COVID-19 Updates*

Learn about Building Safety and Property Management Resources as the coronavirus crisis continues to evolve.

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.
  • Inform HPD, upon entering into a buyout agreement with a lawful occupant of their building, resulting in a tenant vacating the unit.

Notices and Bulletins to Property Owners

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6/2022 - Lead Briefing to Property Owners

5/2022 - Bulletin to Property Owners

This May 2022 Bulletin to Property Owners provides information about property registration, remediating mold properly, and DOB's No Penalty Business Accessory Sign Inspection and No Penalty Deck and Retaining Wall Inspection Programs.

It is also available in additional languages:

4/2022 - Bulletin to Property Owners

This April 2022 Bulletin to Property Owners provides information reminders about lead webinars, virtual property management courses, window guards, certifiying violations, and HCR registration.

It is also available in additional languages:

3/2022 - Bulletin to Property Owners

This March 2022 Bulletin to Property Owners provides information reminders about lead exemption, lead annual notice, dismissal request, and fire safety, and information about Alternative Enforcement Program (AEP) and "Get Ahead of Lead" webinars.

It is also available in additional languages:

2/2022 - Bulletin to Property Owners

This February 2022 Bulletin to Property Owners provides information about the annual bedbug registration, window guards annual notice, stove knob covers annual notice, indoor allergen hazards, Alternative Enforcement Program (AEP), Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP), and buyout agreements.

It is also available in additional languages:

1/2022 - Bulletin to Property Owners

This January 2022 Bulletin to Property Owners provides information about self-closing doors, dismissal request updates, and the lead-based paint annual notice and investigation.

It is also available in additional languages:

12/2021 - Bulletin to Property Owners

This December 2021 Bulletin to Property Owners provides information about 2021 annual filings, 2022 annual notices, 2022 annual inspections, enforcement news, NYS Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP), Homeowner Help Desk, upcoming Tax Lien Sale, and HPD Section 8 updates.

It is also available in additional languages:

11/2021 - Bulletin to Property Owners

This November 2021 Bulletin to Property Owners provides information about important upcoming dates, lead-based paint definition changes, annual bedbug filing, lead annual notice and window guard annual notice, annual requirements reminder for indoor allergen hazards, stove knob covers annual, notice, and property registration.

It is also available in additional languages:

10/2021 - "Get Ahead of Lead" Briefing

10/2021 - Bulletin to Property Owners

9/2021 - Bulletin to Property Owners

This September 2021 Bulletin to Property Owners provides information about Heat Season, civil penalties, Hurricane Ida resources, COVID-19 resources, and relocation expenses.

It is also available in additional languages:

8/2021 - Bulletin to Property Owners

This August 2021 Bulletin to Property Owners provides information about annual property registration, emergency preparedness, tenant data privacy law, and NYS Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP).

It is also available in additional languages:

7/2021 - "Get Ahead of Lead" Briefing

This July 2021 "Get Ahead of Lead" Briefing provides information about owner's responsibility at apartment turnover, NYC Department of Health & Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) training classes, lower lead-contaminated dust levels as of June 1, 2021, updated ABC's of Housing, and smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

It is also available in additional languages:

6/2021 - Bulletin to Property Owners

This June 2021 Bulletin provides information property registration changes, disaster response signage, NYS Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP), Home Support Unit, and boiler inspections.

It is also available in additional languages:

5/2021 - Bulletin to Property Owners

This May 2021 Bulletin provides information property registration, the Home Support Unit, window guards, mold remediation, and lead-based paint inspections.

It is also available in additional languages:

4/2021 - Bulletin to Property Owners

3/2021 - Lead Briefing

This "Get Ahead of Lead" March 2021 Briefing provides information about owner's responsibility at apartment turnover, lower lead-contaminated dust levels beginning June 1, 2021, and additional help for owners.

It is also available in additional languages:

2/2021 - Bulletin to Property Owners

The February 2021 Maintenance Bulletin provides information about upcoming webinars, window guards and stove knob covers annual notices and investigation, indoor allergen hazards, and AEP.

It is also available in additional languages:

1/2021 - Lead Briefing

This "Get Ahead of Lead" January 2021 Briefing provides information about the annual notice and investigation and auditing owners' records.

It is also available in additional languages:

1/2021 - Lead Briefing: Private Dwellings

This "Get Ahead of Lead" January 2021 Briefing: Private Dwellings provides information about upcoming webinars and the new lead-based paint law that applies to rental units in 1-2 family homes starting February 11, 2021.

It is also available in additional languages: