Controlling tenant's heat
We plan on upgrading our thermostats to digital models for the two rentals in our home. I’d like to program them to lower the heat at night. Is that a violation of the law? What is legal and what is common practice? Can I set a maximum temperature so that it can’t be set to…
We plan on upgrading our thermostats to digital models for the two rentals in our home. I’d like to program them to lower the heat at night. Is that a violation of the law? What is legal and what is common practice? Can I set a maximum temperature so that it can’t be set to 90? Finally, can someone recommend a thermostat that accommodates limited permissions for tenants? Our tenants are not very “greenâ€. They ran their AC’s on mild days and when they were not home. If I can impose a more sensible use of the gas, legally, then I certainly will.
Hello Alisa,
Can you tell me what made and model number is the one you got?
I am planning on installing one for my house, which has 2 rentals unit as well, and each floor has a thermostats. I think some responders didnt understand that these are multi family houses — having multiple thermostats does not mean you have multiple boilers, and it is not legal to ask tenant to pay for heat if it does not have its own boiler.
Anyway – i dont suggest installing the lock box as well b/c they could either break the box, and you will never find out until they move out b/c the box is in the apartment itself. I do suggest the digital key code that have 2 auto settings during day and night. If it has dates – that will be even better. Or if it has a lee-way of, say my preset temp during the day is 70 (i will set 2 degree higher than required 68), and allow them to overset 3 degrees more than my preset (max of 73).
Anything like that exist?
Thanks,
Tak
I looked for a thermostat with a digital keycode. I couldn’t find one. What I ended up getting was one with a energy star setting. Turns it down in the day when everyone is at work and at night. If someone increases that temp, it will go back to the set temp at the set time. We may be able to set a code lock so the setting can’t be changed, not sure. Got it at hime depot, have to check brand, but a reasonably priced model.
there is no law against tenants paying for heat/hot water if you have a seperate boiler… you just need to spell it out in the lease.
Thanks for the helpful information, Rick. Yes, each floor has it’s own thermostat. That’s how the house came. I’ll use the law as my guideline (sorry OE).
Can anyone reccomend a good digital thermostat with a digital keycode and a day and night setting? I’d rather not use a plastic box.
Thanks again everyone.
MC
why more than one thermostat? not planning to keep yourself warmer than the tenants..are you?
why about getting one of those clear plastic boxes with a lock that I see people put over their thermostats in public places like stores?
But if you have seperate thermostats, why not just have the tenants pay their heat?
Legal? Yes:
http://www.nyc.gov/html/hpd/html/tenants/heat-and-hot-water.shtml
“Between the hours of 6:00 AM and 10:00 PM, if the outside temperature falls below 55 degrees, the inside temperature is required to be at least 68 degrees Fahrenheit; and,
“Between the hours of 10:00 PM and 6:00 AM, if the temperature outside falls below 40 degrees, the inside temperature is required to be at least 55 degrees Fahrenheit.”
You have more than one thermostat in your house? I don’t know if lowering the heat at night is a violation or not. But I do that in my building. The digital thermostats work well and you can program them too. Mine is made by Honeywell and I’m happy with it. If your thermostat is in a place that your tenants can get it I would put a lock box over it. However, if your tenants still want to mess with the heat, they will. One time, I remember seeing an Ice cube tray on top of a thermostat lock box. It kept the heat running. So my advice is to pick a place for your thermostat that you alone can control.