HPD – NYC Housing Inspections, Violations, and Owner Responsibilities
HPD stands for the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development. It is the city agency that enforces housing-maintenance rules to help keep apartments and residential buildings safe and healthy.
HPD inspectors check problems such as no heat or hot water, leaks, pests, mold, and other unsafe housing conditions. If a condition breaks a housing rule, HPD can issue a violation requiring the owner to correct it.
For owners who rent out apartments, an HPD violation means more than making a repair. The owner must also follow HPD’s instructions for reporting that the problem was fixed. Missing these steps or deadlines can leave a violation open and may lead to further enforcement.
What HPD does in NYC
HPD enforces the Housing Maintenance Code and other housing laws. These rules cover basic living conditions, including heating, hot water, repairs, and certain health and safety hazards.
If an owner does not correct certain dangerous conditions, HPD may arrange emergency repairs and bill the property for the work.
HPD also supports affordable housing, offers assistance to eligible homeowners, and helps finance certain building repairs and improvements. Its work is not limited to inspections and violations.
Why HPD matters to tenants
If your apartment has a maintenance problem, report it to the owner or managing agent. If the problem is not corrected, you can report it through 311. HPD may inspect the apartment and issue violations for conditions that break housing rules.
Common complaints include no heat or hot water, leaks, pests, and mold. HPD can take enforcement action when an owner does not correct violations. Housing Court can order repairs and impose civil penalties, which are money penalties for breaking the law.
Tenants facing harassment or eviction can also contact 311 for information about available help. HPD separately runs rental-assistance programs, including Section 8. These programs have their own eligibility and application rules; making a housing complaint does not automatically qualify someone for rental assistance.
Read HPD’s guide to tenant rights and responsibilities.
Why HPD matters to owners and homeowners
If you rent out apartments, you are responsible for meeting the housing rules that apply to your property. Living in the same building as your tenants does not automatically exempt you from those rules.
Annual HPD property registration is required for residential buildings with three or more apartments, even if the owner lives in one of them. One- and two-family homes must also be registered if neither the owner nor the owner’s immediate family lives there.
An owner-occupied two-family home is generally exempt from annual HPD registration. However, the owner must still meet applicable housing-maintenance requirements.
Some owners may also qualify for help with repairs. HomeFix offers repair loans for eligible owners of one- to four-family homes. Depending on the program terms, these loans may have low or no interest, and some may be forgiven if the owner meets the required conditions.
The Homeowner Help Desk connects homeowners with free housing counseling, legal assistance, and information about repair resources. Each program has its own requirements, and assistance depends on eligibility and availability.
Fixed the problem, but the HPD violation is still open?
Making a repair does not automatically close an HPD violation. The owner must also follow HPD’s process for confirming that the problem was corrected. This is called certification.
If you miss the certification deadline, you may need to submit an HPD dismissal request. This asks HPD to inspect the repaired conditions and remove eligible violations from its records. An inspection fee generally applies.
A paid inspection is not required in every case. Some violations may qualify for another process, such as submitting documents for conditions HPD has already found corrected or requesting new certification dates through violation reissuance. Check the violation’s status and HPD’s current instructions before applying.
The dismissal-request fee is a fee for the requested inspection. It is separate from any civil penalties that may apply.
HPD and small owner-occupied rental buildings
A small rental property is still subject to applicable housing rules, even when the owner lives there. For example, if you live in one apartment and rent out two others, your building has three apartments in total and must be registered annually with HPD.
Owners must provide heat during NYC’s heat season when required by the temperature rules, provide hot water year-round, and correct leaks and other unsafe conditions. Requirements for pests, mold, lead-based paint, and safety devices depend on the applicable law and the property.
For example, a tenant in an owner-occupied two-family home reports a leak through 311. If an HPD inspector finds a housing-code violation, HPD can issue a notice requiring the owner to correct it. The building’s exemption from annual registration does not prevent HPD from issuing an applicable housing violation.
If the owner does not correct the violation, HPD may take further enforcement action. Housing Court can order repairs and impose civil penalties.
A useful first step is to look up your address in HPD Online. Review any open violations and, if your building must be registered, check whether the registration is current. Save your HPD Building ID so you can find the property more easily later.
NEXT STEP
Find official information about housing conditions, violations, property registration, and assistance programs.
Good to know
This page provides general information for education. It uses public New York City sources when available. Some technical and legal terms are explained in plain English to help homeowners and readers who use English as a second language. This page is not legal advice and does not replace advice from a licensed professional. Construction and safety rules can change. Your project may also need to meet DOB*, workplace safety (OSHA), or other requirements. Before work begins, check the current requirements with a licensed architect or engineer, or directly with the NYC Department of Buildings.
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Do you see an abbreviation, such as DOB, on this page or in a city letter? If you do not know what it means, try the search tool on our NYC Violation Codes HUB page.
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