How do I report a housing maintenance problem in Manhattan?

Use HPD's official complaint portal to report housing maintenance issues; urgent unsafe conditions may require separate DOB or emergency filings. See the HPD report page for submission details.

What penalties apply for not fixing code violations?

Penalties can include monetary fines, repair orders, and forced abatement; specific dollar amounts and escalation schedules are set by municipal rules and are not specified on the cited HPD and ECB pages.

How do I appeal a violation?

Appeals and administrative hearings are handled by the Environmental Control Board or the designated tribunal; procedures and hearing dates are on the ECB page.

Property Maintenance Code - Manhattan, New York

Housing and Building Standards New York 3 Minutes Read · published February 05, 2026

Manhattan property owners must follow city property maintenance rules enforced across New York City. This guide explains the primary municipal enforcement offices, how violations are issued and appealed, common owner obligations, and practical steps to resolve complaints in Manhattan. It draws on official New York City agency pages and points to the primary complaint, permit and hearing routes so owners can act promptly and comply with local law.

Keeping clear records and responding quickly reduces escalation.

Overview

The city enforces housing and building maintenance standards through multiple agencies. The Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) handles many housing maintenance complaints, while the Department of Buildings (DOB) addresses building and construction code issues. Administrative violations and fines are heard by the Environmental Control Board (ECB) or other administrative tribunals depending on the violation type. For HPD guidance and code definitions see the agency pages HPD Housing Maintenance Code^[1]. For how to file a complaint with HPD see the official report page Report a Housing Complaint^[2].

Penalties & Enforcement

Enforcement is issued as violations, civil penalties, and repair orders by the enforcing agency; unresolved cases may proceed to administrative hearings. Specific monetary amounts and schedules are set by municipal rules and ECB orders; the cited HPD and ECB pages do not list a single consolidated schedule of fines and therefore some amounts are not specified on the cited pages. For general hearing and appeal procedures see the Environmental Control Board guidance ECB information^[3].

Fines: dollar amounts vary by violation and are applied per occurrence or per day; specific amounts are not specified on the cited HPD and ECB pages.
Escalation: first, repeat and continuing offences may incur increasing penalties or daily continuing fines; exact escalation rules are not specified on the cited pages.
Non-monetary remedies: repair orders, vacate orders, stop-work orders, or mandatory abatement actions.
Enforcers: HPD enforces housing maintenance; DOB enforces building and construction code; ECB adjudicates many administrative violations.
Inspections and complaints: owners and tenants can request inspections or report noncompliance via HPD complaint channels and DOB complaint portals.
Appeals and review: administrative hearings before the ECB or the designated tribunal; time limits for filing an appeal are set in the summons or notice and are not consolidated on the cited pages.

Respond to a notice immediately to avoid escalated fines or forced repairs.

Applications & Forms

Typical forms and portals include HPD complaint reporting and DOB permit/variance applications. Where available, link and submission instructions are provided on each agency page; fees and deadlines for permits or variances are declared on the DOB and HPD application pages themselves, and may vary by project.

Report a housing complaint - HPD online complaint form; submission via the HPD portal. See the HPD report page for details.^[2]
DOB permits and DOB NOW applications - use DOB NOW for building permits and filings; fee schedules and submission steps are on DOB pages.
Hearing and appeal forms - ECB hearing information and appearance instructions are on the ECB page.^[3]

Common Violations

Unsafe structural conditions or lack of required repairs.
Plumbing, heating or electrical failures that create habitability problems.
Illegal or unpermitted construction or alterations.
Pest infestations and sanitation complaints.

Action Steps for Owners

Inspect and document: photograph issues, date-stamp repairs and communications.
Report or respond: file complaints or correct issues promptly using agency portals.
Attend hearings: follow the summons instructions and meet ECB deadlines.
Pay or appeal: pay fines or file an appeal within the time limit stated on the notice.

FAQ

How do I report a housing maintenance problem in Manhattan?: Use HPD's official complaint portal to report housing maintenance issues; urgent unsafe conditions may require separate DOB or emergency filings. See the HPD report page for submission details.^[2]
What penalties apply for not fixing code violations?: Penalties can include monetary fines, repair orders, and forced abatement; specific dollar amounts and escalation schedules are set by municipal rules and are not specified on the cited HPD and ECB pages.
How do I appeal a violation?: Appeals and administrative hearings are handled by the Environmental Control Board or the designated tribunal; procedures and hearing dates are on the ECB page.^[3]

How-To

Document the defect: photographs, dates, and copies of tenant or contractor communications.
File a complaint or correct the issue: submit via HPD or DOB portals depending on the issue type.^[2]
Allow inspection: schedule and allow official inspections; follow written repair orders.
If charged, prepare for hearing: gather evidence, attend ECB or tribunal hearings, and file timely appeals if indicated.

Key Takeaways

Respond quickly to notices to avoid escalated penalties.
Use official HPD and DOB portals for complaints, permits and filings.