To report a problem with your landlord or building in NYC, call 311, use the NYC311 app, or file online — and the complaint is routed to the right agency for you. Housing-condition problems (no heat, hot water, leaks, mold, pests) go to HPD; construction problems (illegal work, unsafe conditions) go to DOB. Filing is free, and you can do it anonymously.
Step 1: Who handles your issue (or let 311 route it)
HPD handles housing-maintenance conditions: no heat/hot water, leaks and mold, pests, peeling/lead paint, broken doors/windows/floors, lack of required services. DOB handles construction and structural safety: unpermitted or over-permit work, illegal apartment conversions (e.g. an illegal basement unit), unsafe structural/facade conditions, elevator and boiler safety. Rule of thumb: if it's about how you're living (heat, water, pests, upkeep) it's usually HPD; if it's about building or construction work it's usually DOB. If you suspect illegal construction, see what a stop work order is.
Step 2: File the complaint
- By phone — call 311 and describe the condition; write down the service request (SR) number.
- Online — nyc.gov/311 or nyc.gov/hpd (no account needed).
- App — NYC311 → "Submit a Service Request."
Have the exact address and apartment number, a clear description, and how long it's been happening.
How to report no heat or hot water
Heat season runs October 1–May 31. During it your landlord must keep your apartment at least 68°F from 6am–10pm when it's below 55°F outside, and at least 62°F from 10pm–6am. Hot water must be at least 120°F year-round. Report shortfalls to HPD via 311; keep your own log of dates, times, and indoor temperatures.
Anonymous — and public?
You can file anonymously and the city won't disclose your identity to the owner. Caveat: to inspect a condition inside your own apartment, HPD generally needs to reach you to arrange access, so full anonymity is easier for building-wide conditions. The complaint and any resulting violation become public records (your name isn't attached publicly) — which is how renters research a building before signing.
Step 3: What happens after you file
Inspection (often a few days to about two weeks; heat and unsafe-condition complaints move faster). If confirmed, the city issues a violation — HPD ranks them Class A (non-hazardous), B (hazardous), C (immediately hazardous; heat and hot water are Class C) — which the owner must correct in set timeframes. If ignored, enforcement escalates (emergency repairs billed to the owner, or housing court). Track status with your SR number at nyc.gov/311.
Check the building's record
Check a Building pulls an address's HPD and DOB complaints, violations, and related public records together for free — useful whether you're deciding to file, tracking an outcome, or sizing up a place before you move in. Building research and tenant education, not a background check. See also how to look up your NYC landlord and am I rent stabilized?
Free tool for public NYC building records — tenant education, not tenant screening. Sources: NYC HPD — Heat and Hot Water Information; NYC HPD — Report a Maintenance Issue; JustFix — Guide to Calling 311.