How do I report a bad landlord in New York City?

Question

Accepted Answer

New York City has several agencies specifically designed to hold landlords accountable. Knowing where to report makes the difference between getting results and being ignored.

Where to report landlord violations in NYC:

NYC Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) — for habitability complaints: no heat, leaks, mold, pest infestation, broken appliances. File online at hpdonline.nyc.gov or call 311
NYC Department of Buildings (DOB) — for illegal construction, structural issues or building code violations. Check DOBNow at a.b1sa.nyc.gov
NYC Rent Guidelines Board (RGB) — for complaints about illegal rent increases in stabilized apartments
NY Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR) — for rent overcharge complaints in stabilized or rent-controlled units
NYC Commission on Human Rights — for housing discrimination complaints
311 — the universal starting point for all city complaints; they will route you to the correct agency

What happens after you file a complaint:

HPD will schedule an inspection — inspectors can issue violations that go on the building's public record
Landlords with open violations may face fines and legal consequences
A pattern of violations can result in the building being placed in the NYC Emergency Repair Program

Important: Filing a complaint is protected activity. A landlord cannot legally evict you or raise your rent in retaliation for reporting violations to city agencies.