My tenant complained about repairs.

How can I get advice from HPD?

HPD’s Neighborhood Preservation offices provide technical advice from code inspectors about how to correct violations. You can walk in one of the following HPD Neighborhood Preservation office.

What is the role of the HPD attorney?

The HPD lawyer is there to represent the city to enforce apartment and building standards. The HPD lawyer may be assigned to your case and may ask to speak with you. The...

What if the tenant won’t let me or my worker in to make repairs?

If the tenant will not let you in to make repairs in the apartment, you can let the court know by filing an order to show cause to get another court date...

Will I have to pay a fine?

If you do not comply with the court order, the tenant can restore the case for compliance and the judge may order you to pay a fine. Before the judge orders you...

What help is available for landlords to make repairs?

HPD provides several types of low interest loans to homeowners. These loans can be used to upgrade building systems like heating or electricity or to make repairs to an apartment. Contact HPD*...

What if I cannot afford to make the repairs?

If you cannot afford to fix the violations, you may have a defense called economic infeasibility, where the court will consider your reasons related to the apartment that financially prevents you from...

How much time will I get to make the repairs?

The amount of time you will be allowed to correct the violations depends on how serious the violations are, and you should go by the deadlines on your consent order, stipulation, or...

What if my tenant is causing the violations in the apartment?

You are still required to correct the violations even if it was your tenant who caused the violations. However, you should tell the judge about the situation. You can sue your tenant...

What will happen on my court date?

On the court date, be sure to arrive early so that you have time to go through the metal detectors. In the courtroom, you may see many people, including the judge, the...

Can I do the repairs myself or do I have to hire someone?

Whether you can do the repairs yourself or not depends on what the violations are. Some violations, such as painting or plastering the walls, you can do by yourself. For other violations,...

What if I don’t go to the court date?

If you don’t go to court on the date of the hearing, a default judgment may be entered against you ordering you to correct the reported violations. The order to correct will...

Can I fix the problem before the court date?

Yes, but you still need to go to court. Bring proof with you to show the judge that you have completed the repairs.

How will the court know if there really are violations?

Usually, the court will send an inspector to the apartment before the court date to verify that the violations in the tenant’s complaint exist. The inspector will file a report confirming which...

What are my defenses?

Some defenses in an HP action may include: the violations never existed or were corrected; you never received court papers or were not served properly; or you are not the owner or...

How do I know that a tenant filed a case against me?

When the tenant files an HP action in Housing Court, he or she will be required to serve the papers on you or your managing agent. The tenant will be required to...

Does the tenant have to notify me before starting an HP action?

The tenant is not required to notify you before filing an HP action. However, the court may decide that you have notice of any problems if the tenant sent you a letter...

What is an HP action?

An HP action is a lawsuit that a tenant can file against you claiming that there are conditions in the apartment that violate legal housing standards. The lawsuit asks the court to...