The law states that you cannot be denied housing because of your race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, lawful occupation, alienage or citizenship status, or because children may be, are, or will be residing with you. Tenants who believe they have experienced housing discrimination may file complaints within one year of the incident by calling the New York City Commission on Human Rights at 212-306-7500 or the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development's (HPD) Office of Fair Housing at 212-863-7911 or their respective borough offices listed below:

• Bronx - South Bronx Action Group at 718-993-5869
• Brooklyn - Brooklyn Housing and Family Services at
  718-435-7585
• Manhattan - Chinese American Planning Council at
  212-431-7800 or the New York Urban League at
  212-926-8000
• Queens - New York Urban League at 718-429-3700
• Staten Island - New York Urban League at 718-442-5579

Hot water must be available to tenants at all times and heat must be available during the heat season. The following is important information about the heat season:

• The heat season runs from October 1st to May 31st.
• From 6:00 am to 10:00 pm, if the temperature drops below 55 degrees Fahrenheit, the indoor temperature must be maintained at 68 degrees Fahrenheit or above.
• From 10:00 pm to 6:00 am, if the outdoor temperature drops below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, the indoor temperature must be maintained at 55 degrees Fahrenheit or above.

If you do not receive heat and hot water you, should first contact your landlord. If your landlord fails to act promptly, you can contact HPD for help by calling 311. HPD will attempt to contact the owner for compliance and the tenant to confirm that the condition still exists. If the condition has not been corrected by the owner, HPD Inspectors may be dispatched and will issue the appropriate violations to the owner. If the owner fails to correct the condition after being issued a violation, HPD may correct the condition and bill the owner for its expenses. Heat and hot water violations are referred to HPD's Housing Litigation Bureau for appropriate legal action.

If there are maintenance problems in your apartment and the landlord has not corrected them, you should call 311 to file a complaint with the appropriate City agency. Complaints such as no water, no electricity, possible lead paint, collapsing ceilings, roaches, mice, rats, and other maintenance conditions will be referred to HPD. For example, if there is an infestation of vermin and the landlord does not respond to your complaints, HPD may issue a violation, ordering the owner to correct the condition. For more information or to file a complaint, please contact HPD by calling 311.

For more information on these types of housing issues, please download the booklet, Useful Information about Housing Rules and Regulations for Owners and Tenants (in PDF).

HPD offers several income-based programs to provide New Yorkers with an opportunity to own or rent safe and reliable housing.

This program provides low-income families an opportunity to rent safe, decent, and affordable housing at low rental rates. Families that meet certain income guidelines may apply for Housing Choice Vouchers (HCV). HCVs allow families to pay between 30% to 40% of their gross income toward rent and utilities while HPD then pays the difference to the owners. The program also benefits homeowners by offering low vacancy, choice of tenants, free annual inspections and guaranteed monthly rent payments. To learn more about the Housing Choice Voucher Program, please contact HPD's Client Services at 917-286-4300.

HPD maintains a listing of all rental apartments created through its affordable housing programs. This list is updated regularly and can be accessed by going to the HPD Web site, or by calling 212-863-5610.

If you are seeking to become a homebuyer, HPD maintains a listing of homeownership units created through its affordable housing programs. HPD has developed several programs that enable New York's families to purchase newly constructed or newly renovated homes and/or apartments. The City itself does not sell the homes, but works with real estate professionals and community sponsors to market the homes. On the List of Affordable Homes, you will see phone numbers listed for our partners, and you will need to contact them directly for information on how to purchase a home. HPD's List of Affordable Homes can be accessed by visiting the Agency Web site.