Nyc Administrative Code 27-2013 May 2026

Enacted under Title 27 of the Administrative Code, which governs housing maintenance, § 27-2013 explicitly prohibits owners from allowing their properties to fall into a “dangerous” or “hazardous” condition. The statute is deliberately comprehensive. It covers structural integrity—walls, roofs, foundations—as well as essential services such as heat, hot water, electricity, and plumbing. Furthermore, it mandates the maintenance of public areas like hallways and stairs, and requires that all building systems (e.g., elevators, fire alarms, ventilation) remain in good working order.

Another limitation is the statute’s focus on physical conditions. It does not directly address noise pollution, overcrowding, or neighborhood-level environmental hazards (e.g., external pollution). These must be pursued under other laws, creating a fragmented approach to what tenants perceive as a single problem: an unlivable home. nyc administrative code 27-2013

Critically, the statute also prohibits retaliatory eviction. If a landlord issues a rent increase or eviction notice within six months of a tenant reporting a § 27-2013 violation, a rebuttable presumption of retaliation arises. This protection encourages tenants to report dangerous conditions without fear of losing their homes. Enacted under Title 27 of the Administrative Code,

The key legal innovation of § 27-2013 is its specificity. Unlike common-law implied warranties of habitability, which can be vague, this code section provides clear benchmarks. For example, it explicitly defines lack of heat between October 1 and May 31 as a violation, and it sets temperature minimums (68°F during the day, 62°F at night). By codifying these specifics, the city empowers the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) to inspect, cite, and penalize violations without having to argue abstract notions of “unreasonableness.” Furthermore, it mandates the maintenance of public areas