Cold apartment
Since December I’ve been calling my landlord and telling her the apartment is too cold. It ranges from 65 to 68 degrees during the day and 63 degrees at night. We live on the top floor of a brownstone. It’s a two-bedroom apartment with only two radiators; one in the kitchen and one in the…
Since December I’ve been calling my landlord and telling her the apartment is too cold. It ranges from 65 to 68 degrees during the day and 63 degrees at night. We live on the top floor of a brownstone. It’s a two-bedroom apartment with only two radiators; one in the kitchen and one in the larger bedroom. The second bedroom has no heating source. The heat does work but it is very weak. Only the top of the radiator gets warm, the bottom half never heats up. Before any of you landlord’s chime in with your “68 is warm enough†imagine waking up freezing at 3am and unable to get warm. It’s not a lot of fun.
As of yet my landlord’s one and only response is “I’ll take a look at it†but nothing ever changes. The boiler looks ancient but other apartments in the building are heated fine (in fact the apartment on the ground floor has turned one of their radiator’s off and opened their windows). So, my question is; is it the radiators? Can they be replaced? I think they are full of decades worth of gunk but I’ve read they can’t be bled. It’s one of those boilers where you have to turn a water valve to keep it full and working. I know it leaks because every couple of weeks it gets empty and the heat goes off in the entire building. I know the landlord is concerned about having any contractors or inspectors in because the building hasn’t been inspected since 1986 (I know this because that was the last time an inspector signed the building certificate posted in the hallway). She’s also done lots of hidden construction (turning one apartment into two, closing off doorways) which would cause some problems too. She’s not a bad person but I don’t think she knows what she’s doing when it comes to the heat (if, in fact, she’s doing anything besides giving me lip service and taking my $2700 every month).
Go to housing court and file an hp (housing part) proceeding, if you
are broke the filing is free.
If you have income it is about $35 for the filing.
You do not need a private attorney, the city automatically represents your interest for free no matter your income.
While you are at it list the whole kettle of fish.
In other words list everything wrong with the apartment. You get one shot. It makes your case stronger.
The court will help you fill out the papers for free and they will let you know the exact date the court appointed inspector will be out to verify and write it all up.
Every brownstone I ever lived in was freezing on the top floor, especially in the back half. (When I lived in top floor apartment, and again, when I lived in duplex of 3/4 floors – 4th MUCH colder. And in my 4 unit coop, where, luckily, I wasn’t on the 4th floor.)
I always figured that the trade off for having the better light amd views, and no one above me, was having little to no heat.
That said, I knew someone with the same problem whose problem went away once the landlord replaced the ancient boiler.
So, I think it is usually a boiler problem (boiler was ancient in all the buildings I lived in noted above.) Maybe they did things to fix the radiators at the same time they replaced the boiler – I don’t know.
There are those who say you can improve the heat by messing the the radiators – bleeding them if they are the kind that can be bled (steam or hot water, I forget which kind you bleed) – but that never worked when my landlord bled them every year. And, for the other kind (steam or hot water – the kind you don’t bleed), they say there are different sized thermostatic valves (those little hat-like things that stick out from the side near the top that let off hot steam/water all over your wall and your stuff when the water levels are off) that can be put on the radiators on each floor in order to balance the heat better on the 4 floors. Try looking into that.
Though it is hard when you are a renter. It seems landlords just don’t care. And my take is usually that you are better able to get their cooperation if you first try to find a solution and get that implemented (try talking to a plumber about the different valves if you have the kind of radiators that have them – its the steam or the hot water – one is bled, one has valves – I forget which) before calling 311 – as the city standards for heat are not really comfortably high for your average drafty-windowed, uninsulated brownstone top floor.
Short term, I’d (1) get one of those oil-filled electric radiators for the bedroom (yes, it sucks that your electricity bill will go up); (2) use weather stripping around your windows (ugly, but it helps) and (3) get window coverings that will keep whatever heat you do have in (like honeycomb shades or heavy curtains – it helps, though it sucks to spend a lot for those big windows if you aren’t staying for long.)
Now, renting a really beautiful apartment, top floor of a large building from apartment owner (not a rental building). Some previous landlord/owner removed radiators in my living room and bedroom, and the window in my bedroom leaves a 1/2″ gap between the window and the frame – so it is drafty, though stuffed by me with window AC foam. Heavy curtains (which I need to block light at night anyway) help. As does having bought a second! down quilt to put over the first one I already had. As does sleeping with a wool sweater over my pajamas, and a wool hat when necessary. Have considered buying an electric radiator. Ultimately, every apartment requires trade-offs. Happy now with my light, views, space and rent – but look forward to having heat, too, when I buy again.
I’m not a landlord [I have a single-family brownstone] but I do think that 68 is plenty warm–too warm for me personally. I keep my house at 65 day, 55 at night and am very uncomfortable with higher temperatures.
It’s WINTER–it’s supposed to be cold! Why be such a wus? Wear a sweater and get a good quilt for your bed–it’s healthier and better for the environment.
The limit for the evening hours is 55 but during the daytime it’s 68, so if it is falling below that, she’s in violation at $250 a day until the problem is corrected. Moreover, the city will come to inspect your apartment and could fine her for any other potential violations. All you have to do is call 311. I think the fact that the second bedroom has no heat source is a violation and will they’ll make your landlord provide a heat source at great expense.
On the other hand, you risk pissing off your landlord and she might not renew your lease. Do you like your apartment and want to stay? Do you want to get into a war with your landlord? If you call the city, you should repost and say what happens, it will be interesting to hear.
I’ll bet there are air vents on the tops of your radiators and not in the lower half where they belong.
That’s a common error when installing steam radiators as opposed to hot water radiators.
That would account for the condition you’ve described.
If it is really such a problem, why not buy a $35 electric radiator. I use one in my bedroom at night because my very large condo has central heat and we dont want to pay to heat the whole condo while we sleep.
It works great and keeps the large room (16 X 14)very warm and even has a thermostat so we can set it to whatever temp we want.
I think the city regs are that it only has to be heated to 55 at night so you’re out of luck.
However, if she’s split an apartment into 2 and closed off doorways, I’d call the fire department ASAP and open the door to let their inspector in. Illegal apartments of that sort can be deadly.
I live in a co-op and know that we have to have the boiler inspected annually. Wouldn’t your brownstone need the same type of inspection if it has at least 3 apartments which you imply? Call 311 about that too.
It sounds like you have more issues with your landlord than the heat. Why not find another apartment if you aren’t happy there?
first, 68 IS warm enough according to NYC laws.
if you are concerned, take a readout in the bedroom w/o and radiators, and see what the temp is.
if your cold bottom, hot top radiator broken? is your shutoff open ALL the way? is it leaking? does your air/vapor equalizing valve work? is it painted shut?
still pissed off? call 311, thats why NYC residents pay so much TAX