How do you get landlord to give heat?

Heating season doesn't begin until October 15th so the landlord may not turn it on until next week and he's within the law. Sarcastic as this might sound, you might try wearing a sweater. The temp in your apartment doesn't have to be more than 68 which still feels cold to many people.

The must have changed it again. Used to be 10/15 to 4/15, then they went to 5/15. Now it's the end of May. In any event, the inside temps don't have to be more than 68 which is still cold to many people. Therefore, the sweater suggestion is still a propos.

If you live in a building with multiple rental units, you should post the sign above with the heating season info/requirements around or slide it under doors. Maybe your neighbors are cold as well but don't know their rights, and lots of complaints will do more than just one to the LL. Maybe once it hits Oct 15, they will just turn it on, but if not, everyone should get together to complain (assuming you have fellow tenants).

I'm always cold and have found that an electric blanket is good and less dangerous than a space heater.

Heating for renters seems to be one of the lingering widespread problems in NYC. Good luck!

Happily I don't have tenants in the house I live in and I can keep the heat off until it really gets cold. I hate the heat and keep my A/C set at 68 degrees in the summer, so having my bedroom last night/this morning at 70 degress without neither the heat on or A/C running was great and energy efficient.

I have a 3 family rental propety and when I have the heat setting as required by law, my tenants complain it is too hot and stuffy. I grew up on that house, my mother used to keep the temp at 78 because she was a smoker and always felt cold, I had chronic respiratory problems throughout my childhood, then I moved into a 8 family house in the Slope that had the heat on high all the time and my winter respiratory problems continued.

Once I moved into my own house and was able to keep the heat to a reasonable temperature my chronic winter respiratory problems disappeared.

I am assuming most of the posters here live in attached row houses or apartment buildings not freestanding houses, so the mass of the buildings keep the temperatures stable.

To the original poster, get a room thermoter, put it on your nightable. Put one in your living room also. It is probably warmer than you think, as some people feel the cold more than others. If you are always cold, even if your landlord is in compliance, as Pragmatic Guy suggests wear a sweater, wear sweat pants at home, invest in flannel PJ's or sheets and cozy slippers plus an extra blanket to layer on.

If your landlord is not living up to the requirements set out by law you have the right to withhold rent. It's best to continue to pay the rent, but pay it into an escrow account, so when the case goes to court you can prove that you are still paying it, you're just withholding it until the landlord provides heat. When the heat goes back on, all back rent must be paid to the landlord.

This process could/probably will result in 1)A record of you having an in-court housing situation that will make it harder to rent in the future, and 2)A landlord that really won't like you and might very well try to evict you for lack of payment. Yes, you'll most likely win in the latter case if you're putting the rent into escrow, but then look at result #1.

Before withholding rent it would be a good idea to get in touch with a tenants right lawyer. Maybe the lawyer can send a letter threatening further action and that might be enough to get the landlord to turn on the heat. Besides that you just have to keep calling the landlord and complaining or contact 311 or the sort of news station that comes and harasses everyone. "So-And-So on Your Side" or something.