Residential guide
No Heat in a Queens Apartment: Tenant vs. Landlord Responsibility
Why Gotham Home Services
In a Queens rental apartment, the building owner is generally responsible for providing heat during New York City's heat season, October 1 through May 31. City rules require an indoor temperature of at least 68°F between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. when it is below 55°F outside, and at least 62°F overnight regardless of outdoor temperature. Tenants who lose heat should notify the landlord in writing and can report the problem to 311. Unit owners in co-ops, condos, and private homes are usually responsible for equipment inside their own unit. Gotham Home Services diagnoses in-unit heating equipment and radiator problems in Queens.
Published 2026-09-23 · Updated 2026-09-23
A cold apartment raises two questions: who is responsible, and what is actually broken. For the equipment side, see residential HVAC service in Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan and Long Island; for the responsibility side, the city's heat rules are the starting point.
Key points
- 1.Heat season runs October 1 through May 31
- 2.Daytime minimum is 68°F indoors when it is below 55°F outside
- 3.Overnight minimum is 62°F indoors regardless of outdoor temperature
- 4.Tenants notify the landlord in writing and can call 311
- 5.Co-op, condo, and homeowners typically handle in-unit equipment
- 6.Building boiler rooms are the owner's responsibility, not the tenant's
In rentals, central heat from the building is the owner's obligation, so tenants should document temperatures, times, and dates and report persistent problems. When the problem is inside one unit, such as a stuck radiator valve or a failed thermostat, the guide on heating in prewar NYC apartments explains common systems, and questions to ask an NYC HVAC contractor helps owners hire for in-unit repairs.
Owners of co-op or condo units and private homes can book an in-unit diagnosis. Gotham Home Services works on radiators, valves, vents, and unit-level heating equipment only, never building boiler rooms. See residential HVAC service in Queens for local details.
This article summarizes public NYC heat-season rules for general information and is not legal advice. Check NYC HPD guidance or call 311 for current requirements, and contact emergency services if there is a gas odor, carbon-monoxide alarm, or other immediate danger.