Heat Rights for Co-op Owners?
I live in a small co-op building and in winter I’ve measured 58-59 degrees often during the daytime. I’ve already spoken repeatedly to the board about it. Isn’t the building subject to the New York City Housing Maintenance Code which states: Oct 1-May 31, from 6am to 10pm all apts must be kept at a…
I live in a small co-op building and in winter I’ve measured 58-59 degrees often during the daytime. I’ve already spoken repeatedly to the board about it. Isn’t the building subject to the New York City Housing Maintenance Code which states: Oct 1-May 31, from 6am to 10pm all apts must be kept at a minimum of 68 degrees when outside temps fall below 55? (the night temps are within legal allowable 55 degrees)
First check to make sure all your radiators are connected and operating. Sometimes occupants will disconnect some on purpose and you wouldn’t necessarily realize it is off. You might have to ask your super to be sure. But obviously if one is cold and the others aren’t, that’s a clue.
You should really be addressing this an issue with the board because if your information is accurate something is wrong in your building. By comparison, our thermostat is set to 70F, mornings and evenings, and 55F for overnight and during the day, effectively switching off the heat during those periods. At this time of year when the temps are still fairly moderate (like yesterday and today) the heat doesn’t always come on during the “warming” time periods because the house has barely cooled down at all and the thermostat may still be reading 69F.
Don’t have a renter mentality in a co-op. What’s the board saying to you? Is it just “we don’t care” or is it that the resolution of the problem may be extremely costly (heating problems are among the most common issues in a co-op).
Yes, maybe the co-op could turn up the heat, but then everyone else is overheated, money is wasted..etc.
I guess I’d like to hear more about your interactions with the board — are you really constructively approaching this problem in concert with them, or are you pursuing this in a way that isn’t effective or positive? I can’t believe a board would just not care. I’m sure there’s more to it.
I mean, call 311 – what do you expect to happen? Maybe the building gets issued some kind of citation and you all end up paying it. It’s not your landlord’s cost. It’s a cost to you and all your neighbors. Approach this as a common issue.
consider yourself LUCKY. some apartments disgustingly overheat and it’s hellish even with the windows open.
*rob*
yes, as the others have said, tape does work wonders. We also have the newer thermo pane windows, which IMO are as good as shit, wooden windows with storms work better, anyway, when it is really windy in our courtyard, the tape all around the tracks in the windows does help, it really does.
I used AC tape on my windows in my coop as they are old, drafty and big. Makes a huge difference. If you in a small bldg I bet the heating bill is second biggest expense after taxes.
The temperature requirements apply to all co-ops where the building has 3 or more apartments. before calling 311 talk with how ever manages the building(call and write)….
Sometimes its because the thermostat is in a room where the Sun also warms the room and during the day it shuts off.
Note that it may not be below 55 outside either…..and then no heat is required at all….
I used painters tape to seal my windows (turned out leaking wildly along the top) and raised my interior temp 6 degrees on average. Might help and it’s cheap
How small is “small”? Like 4 units? or 16? or 30?
Pete is right about looking at a mechanical problem. If you’re on a lower floor, it might be chilly because they lowered the building’s overall temperature so the upper floors aren’t boiling. If you’re on an upper floor, the heat may not be getting to you properly.
Also, and this is something that the board needs to weigh… depending on the size and complexity of the building, adding a couple of “zones” (if they don’t already exist) can pay for itself… and everyone is more comfortable.