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D. Lead-Based PaintLLead-BasedPaintNew York City’sLeadFreeNYC plan wasreleased in January 2019and outlined 45 separateinitiatives that the Mayor’sOffice and a numberof City Agencies areundertaking to removelead from buildings. Tolearn more about theCity’s efforts to preventlead exposure, visit theLeadFreeNYC website at:nyc.gov/leadfreeHPD’s “Get Ahead ofLead” webinar series,accessible from HPD'sLead-Based Paintwebpage nyc.gov/leadbased-paint, can help youlearn more about all ofthe responsibilities andobligations under LocalLaw 1 of 2004 as outlinedhere.ead is a harmful metaloften found in old paintthat can be poisonous foryoung children if it createsdust or paint chips. Youngchildren can swallow the leadpaint dust and chips fromwindow sills and floors. Leadcauses behavior and learningproblems in young children.While NYC banned leadbased paint in 1960, olderbuildings may still containit. Property owners of thesebuildings are responsiblefor keeping tenants safefrom lead-based painthazards. Property ownersmust identify and remediatelead-based paint hazardsin the apartments and thecommon areas of thosebuildings where there areyoung children, using trainedand appropriately certifiedworkers and safe workpractices.Under Local Law 1, leadbased paint hazards arepresumed to exist if: The building was builtbefore 1960 (or between1960 and 1978 if the ownerknows that there is leadbased paint) and, The building has three ormore apartments or thebuilding has a rented unitin a one- or two-familyhome and, A child under the age ofsix lives in the apartmentor routinely spends 10or more hours per weekthere.Owners must ask tenantsin writing, using an annualnotice available on the HPDwebsite, whether childrenunder the age of six are6ABCs OF HOUSINGin residence. If so, ownersmust visually inspect theapartments and commonareas for lead-based painthazards at least once a year.Property owners can hirequalified companies toconduct testing to determinewhether there is lead-basedpaint in their buildings andwork proactively to reducethe liability associated withlead-based paint. Leadbased paint violations mustbe repaired by trained andappropriately certifiedworkers using safe workpractices, within the timeframes specified by lawand HPD rules. If ownerscan show that there is nolead paint in the building orperform abatement using theappropriate methods andcertified workers, and obtainan Exemption from HPD, thenthe annual requirement forobtaining information fromthe tenant and conductingvisual inspections do notapply.Owners should be awareof the following changesto Lead-Based PaintHazards law.1. Under Local Law 64 of2019, the definition of theterm “resides” now meansto routinely spend 10 ormore hours per week ina dwelling unit, whichincludes both a child wholives in the apartment anda child who just visits forthis period of time. Thisnew definition went intoeffect in January 2020.2. Clearance tests to confirmthat no lead dust remainsafter construction workis performed must beperformed every time workis done in a building thatLocal Law 1 covers. Thelead dust threshold levelsfor clearance of work areas,showing there is no leaddust, were lowered as ofJune 2019 to: Floor: 10 or more micro-grams per square foot Window Sills: 50 ormore micrograms persquare foot Window Wells: 100 or moremicrograms per squarefootThe thresholds will be loweredagain in June 2021 to: Floor: 5 or more micro-grams per square foot Window Sills: 40 or moremicrograms per squarefoot Window Wells: 100 or moremicrograms per square foot3. There are a significantnumber of record-keepingrequirements related tolead-based paint, andHPD will be auditingmore properties eachyear. There are significantcivil penalties that can beimposed for the failure tokeep these documents for10 years.4. In effect August 2020and with five years forfull compliance, LocalLaw 31 of 2020 sets anew requirement totest all rental units inbuildings built before1960 for the presenceof lead-based paintusing an independentEnvironmental ProtectionAgency (EPA) certified

inspector or risk assessor,by August 2025. If a childunder six comes to residein a unit, the testing mustbe done within 1 yearor by the August 9, 2025deadline, whicheveris sooner. The resultsmust be provided tothe tenants. If there isno lead- based paintin a unit OR an ownerproperly abates lead byremoving or enclosing itas outlined in the law, theowner should apply for anExemption from many ofthe requirements of LocalLaw by filing an Exemptionapplication with HPD.5. Property owners of pre1960 buildings are alsorequired to take action toremove and/or remediatelead-based paint oncertain surfaces wheneveran apartment turns overand before the new tenanttakes occupancy. In 2021,as implemented by LocalLaw 28 of 2020, HPD willexpand its enforcement ofthe turnover requirementsduring agency in-dwellinginvestigations for leadbased hazards.PROPERTY OWNERSRESOURCES For information on freetraining on lead-safehome repair, please callDepartment of Health andMental Hygiene (DOHMH)at 212-226-5323. See thesection in the ABCs onloans and grants availablefor owners, some of whichspecifically address leadbased paint. For sampleforms and informationvisit HPD’s nyc.gov/lead-based-paint. You do not need tohire a professional toconduct your annualvisual investigation.However, HPD highlyrecommends that whoeverconducts this investigationtake the online visualassessment trainingoffered by the federalDepartment of Housingand Urban Developmentat ssessment/h00101.htm.TENANTSTenants should report peelingpaint in an apartment tothe landlord. If the landlorddoes not fix peeling paint orif work is being done in anunsafe manner (for example,creating dust that is not beingcontained), tenants should call311. Tenants may also call 311to learn how to prevent leadpoisoning, find out where toget their children tested, findinformation about pregnancyand lead, or requestbrochures and materials onlead poisoning prevention. Tenants are required to: Fill out and return theAnnual Notice regardinglead-based paint that youreceive from the landlord. Notify the landlord inwriting if a child under sixcomes to live with you,routinely spends 10 ormore hours a week withyou, or if you have a baby.Tenants should: Wash floors, window sills,hands, toys, and pacifiersoften. Remind your doctor totest your children for leadpoisoning at ages oneand two.E. MoldMold may cause allergicreactions, irritation,or trigger asthma in somepeople. Mold needs wateror moisture to grow so it isimportant for building ownersto fix leaks promptly.Residents can help preventmold growth on bathroomor kitchen surfaces by usingexhaust fans or openingwindows and frequentlycleaning surfaces. Tenantsshould report leaks andsigns of mold growth to theirbuilding owners. If repairs arenot made, call 311.Cleanup of mold mayrequire licensed contractors;property owners and tenantscan read more about theserequirements on HPD’swebsite, nyc.gov/hpd orvisit the DOHMH websiteat nyc.gov/doh.UNDERLYING CONDITIONSThe Underlying ConditionsProgram allows HPD to issuean administrative order toresidential building owners tocorrect underlying conditionsthat have caused, or arecausing, leaks and moldconditions.HPD selects buildings forparticipation in the programeach year based on thenumber of apartmentsaffected by mold and leaks,and the number and severityof the violations. Propertyowners are required toinvestigate the cause of leakor mold conditions affectingmultiple apartments in abuilding, and to addressthe conditions and relatedviolations within four months.HPD may sue non-compliantowners in Housing Court. Thecivil penalty is 1,000 for eachdwelling unit with a minimumof 5,000.MoldABCs OF HOUSING7

F. PestsRoaches, mice, andrats can be hazards toindividuals with respiratoryconditions, such as asthma.The first step to eliminatingpests is by cutting off theirfood and water supply.Cockroaches and mice arebest controlled by sealing upholes and cracks, cleaningup droppings, and using safepesticides. Building ownersshould work with their pestcontrol contractor to identifypest infestations and ways tokeep pests out. Owners canpest-proof their buildings byfixing leaks and containinggarbage. Tenants can help bykeeping food and garbagecovered and reducing clutter.To learn more about pests,see DOHMH ControllingPests Safely atwww.nyc.gov/doh.BEDBUGSBedbugs are rusty-redcolored insects that can growto the size of apple seeds.Pests8ABCs OF HOUSINGBedbugs feed on humanblood, but do not carrydiseases. Infestations canspread among apartmentswhen bedbugs crawlthrough small crevices orcracks in walls and floors.Early detection of bedbugsis the key to preventing asevere infestation. For moreinformation on bedbugs,detection, and informationon how to treat bedbugs,take HPD’s free “BedbugManagement” course onlinein English or Spanish at nyc.gov/hpd or visit the DOHMHat www.nyc.gov/doh.New York State law requiresthat landlords hire onlypest control professionalslicensed by the NY StateDepartment of EnvironmentalConservation (DEC) to treatapartments for bedbugs.The pest control professionalshould perform an inspectionto confirm the presenceof bedbugs, locate andeliminate hiding places, treatthe apartment with cleaningsor pesticides and makefollow-up visits to ensure thatthe bedbugs are gone.When calling 311 to makea bedbug complaint, thecaller may be asked by the311 operator about whetherit would be acceptable forHPD to bring a dog trainedto sniff out bedbugs toparticipate in an inspection.If the dog is not allowed, anHPD Inspector will conduct avisual inspection. Violationswill be issued if the Inspectoris able to visually confirm thepresence of live bedbugs.Multiple bedbug violationsin a building may lead toenhanced enforcement.Property owners must reportinformation about bedbugoccurrences in their buildingselectronically with HPD eachyear at / during the monthof December.

G. Window GuardsEach year, youngchildren are injured ordie as a result of falls fromunguarded windows. Theseare preventable deaths andinjuries.The law requires ownersto send an annual noticeto tenants of multipledwellings (buildings ofthree or more apartments)regarding window guards.It also requires ownersto provide and properlyinstall approved windowguards on all windows in allapartments where a child10 years of age or youngerresides, including first floorbathrooms, windows leadingonto a balcony or terrace, andwindows in each commonarea on any floor.The exceptions to this laware windows that open ontoa fire escape, and windowson the first floor that are arequired secondary exit,since the fire escapes starton the second floor.If tenants or occupantswant window guards for anyreason, even if there are noresident children 10 years ofage or younger, the tenantcan request the windowguards in writing and thelandlord must install them.For example, occupants whohave visiting grandchildren,parents who share custody,and occupants who providechild care may wish torequest window guards.Tenants should call 311if required or requestedwindow guards have notbeen installed, if they appearto be insecure or improperlyinstalled, or if there is morethan four and a half inches ofopen unguarded space in thewindow opening.Tenants should not removeor unscrew window guardsfor any reason, including toinstall air conditioners. TheDepartment of Health andMental Hygiene’s website(nyc.gov/doh) can provideadditional information on: Annual notices Installation requirementsfor approved windowguardsWindowGuards VariancesH. Self-Closing DoorsSelf-closing doors inapartments and inpublic hallways are a criticalcomponent of fire safety.Self-closing doors shouldnever be blocked and canhelp contain a fire fromspreading throughout abuilding.In all multiple dwelling types,the following doors arerequired to be self-closing: Building entrance doors Other doors accessing thepublic hall/stairs (buildingcommercial space, garageareas, etc.) Unit entrance doors Fire stair doors Fire tower doors Bulkhead doors Rubbish chute closetdoorsSelf-ClosingDoorsABCs OF HOUSING9

I. Gas LeaksGas leaks can create firesand explosions. It’simportant that you and yourfamily know how to recognizea gas leak and what to do ifyou suspect a leak. Recognizea gas leak by:Smell—A distinctive, strongodor similar to rotten eggsGas LeaksSight—A white cloud, mist,fog, bubbles in standingwater, blowing dust, orvegetation that appears to bedead or dying for no reasonSound—Roaring, hissing, orwhistlingProperty owners are requiredto post signage and provideinformation to tenantsregarding what to do whenthey suspect a gas leak.2. After leaving the building,from a safe distance awayfrom the building, call 911immediately to report thesuspected gas leak;Anyone suspecting a gas leakshould:3. After calling 911, call thegas service provider forthis building.1. Quickly open nearbydoors and windows andthen leave the buildingimmediately; do notattempt to locate the leak.Do not turn on or off anyelectrical appliances, donot smoke or light matchesor lighters, and do not usea house-phone or cellphone within the building;Gas restoration should alwaysbe completed by a licensedplumber. For informationon the steps to restoration,property owners can visitwww.nyc.gov/hpd andsearch Gas.J. Gas Powered Stoves:Stove Knob CoversOStove Knob Covers10ABCs OF HOUSINGwners of a tenantoccupied multipledwelling must provide stoveknob covers for gas-poweredstoves where the ownerknows or reasonably shouldknow that a child undersix years of age resides.Households can forgo stoveknob covers through writtenrefusal to the landlord.Owners must also providestove knob covers in a unitwithout a child under six yearsof age if the tenant requeststhem. In addition, theowner is required to providetenants with an annual noticethat outlines the owner’sobligation as highlighted inthe law.

K. ElevatorsThe NYC Departmentof Buildings’ ElevatorDivision oversees the use andoperation of elevators in NYCbuildings by enforcing theNew York City Building Codeand other standards. Callor go online to 311 to file acomplaint if the elevator is notworking properly.Should an immediatelyhazardous elevator violationnot be remedied within thetimeframe allowed by DOB,HPD may seek to correctthe condition through itsEmergency Repair Programor through other enforcementmechanisms.ElevatorsIllegalBasement& CellarOccupancyL. Illegal Basement and Cellar OccupancyBasements and cellarsare very different spacesand have different legal uses.A basement is a story of abuilding partly below curblevel but with at least one-halfof its height above the curblevel. A cellar is an enclosedspace having more thanone-half of its height belowcurb level. Basements andcellars may not be occupiedunless the conditions meetthe minimum requirementsfor light, air, sanitation,and egress, and have beenapproved by the City’sDepartment of Buildings.Cellars in one and two-familyhomes can NEVER be lawfullyrented.Owners with illegallyconverted basements andcellars may face civil andcriminal penalties.Occupants of illegalbasement and cellarapartments face potentialdangers such as carbonmonoxide poisoning,inadequate light andventilation, and inadequateegress in the event of a fire.The City may require thatoccupants vacate or leaveany such apartment.Tenants who are vacated areoffered Emergency HousingServices through HPD.M. COVID-19Due to the unprecedented impact of COVID-19 on New York City, the City of NewYork and HPD have developed a list of resources for anyone seeking assistance.For housing resources and HPD service updates, please visit our COVID-19 Updates webpageat www.nyc.gov/hpd.COVID-19ABCs OF HOUSING11

II. Complaints, Violations and EnforcementProperty Registration is required annually for all residential buildings with 3 or more residentialunits and for 1–2 family homes if neither the owner nor the owner’s immediate family reside atthe property. Registration information is used to contact property owners about complaintsreceived by HPD and violations issued by HPD, as well as by other city agencies shouldemergencies occur at a property. For more details about how to register, property ownersshould go to www.nyc.gov/hpd and search Property Registration. Property owners arestrongly encouraged to provide email contact information to ensure the quickest and mostdirect communication from the agency.A. HPD Complaint ProcessTenants may file a complaint with HPD by calling 311, using TTY 212-504-4115, or by using 311online (nyc.gov/311) 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-per-week. Complaints regarding heat and hotwater may also be filed through the 311 mobile app.After a tenant files a complaint with 311 about a housing condition, 311 forwards the complaintto HPD. A notification call and/or email is made to the registered owner. The notificationis made to advise the owner of the problem only, and never closes the complaint. (Note toowners: if you are not properly registered, you may miss this important notification from HPD!)A call may also be made to the tenant to confirm whether the condition has been corrected. Ifthere is no confirmation of correction by the tenant, an inspector may be dispatched.In addition to responding to the complaint, HPD will alwaysinspect for nine safety issues:12ABCs OF HOUSING The presence of operational smoke detectors. The presence of operational carbon monoxide detectors. Illegal gates on the windows. Door locks that require a key to exit. Window guards if a child under age 11 resides in the unit. Self-closing dwelling unit entrance doors. Peeling paint if child under age six resides in the unit. Mold. Mice, cockroaches, and rats.

B. ViolationsIf HPD inspectors issue violations, the time the owner is given to correct them depends on theviolation severity. You can see all the open violations on a building on HPD’s website throughHPDONLINE. HPD will mail a Notice of Violation to the business address of the managingagent registered with HPD (or to owner directly if there is no managing agent). If the owner hassupplied an email with their Property Registration, HPD will also email information about theviolations to the owner. Heat and hot water violations are posted at the building at the time ofthe inspection. The Housing Maintenance Code has three classes of code violations: A, B, and C.Violation ClassTypeTime owner has to correct from noticebefore civil penalties begin to accrueClass ANon-Hazardous90 DaysClass BHazardous30 DaysClass C: Lead-Based Paint, Windows Guards,Mold, Mice/Cockroaches, and RatsImmediately Hazardous21 DaysClass C: Heat and Hot Water ViolationsImmediately HazardousImmediatelyClass C: (all others)Immediately Hazardous24 HoursOnce a violation condition has been corrected, it is the property owner’s responsibility tonotify HPD that the condition has been corrected through the certification process. Currentlyregistered Owners/Agents can certify violations as corrected through eCertification or bycompleting the violation documents mailed to the owner. To find out more about eCertification,the owner can go online to www.nyc.gov/hpd.Failure to correct violations may also result in civil penalties imposed by the Hou

6 ABCs OF HOUSING D. Lead-Based Paint Lead is a harmful metal often found in old paint that can be poisonous for young children if it creates dust or paint chips. Young children can swallow the lead