Description
Every winter, especially on the coldest days and when the season commences, we are not sure if we will wake up to heat or hot water. Many days we have had to forfeit a shower and had to use space heaters (causing our electric bill to surge). Since we have no super in our building and management refuses to give us his phone number, we are just at the whim of any given day. The super blames the restaurant below us, accusing them of turning off the switch but somehow they never rectify this situation. The boiler has been "repaired" repeatedly but never seems to work. So far this week we have had no heat or hot water on 2 different days and nights. Since it's the weekend and the management office is closed we are hosed!
9 Comments
Heatwatchnyc (Guest)
Hi Enid,
We just notified your building management company about your post. They said they would look into the problem.
Pioneer Management, 289 Columbus Ave, New York, NY 10023 (212) 496-7322
Good luck,
Heatwatchnyc
Anonymous
Thank you. No one else wants to get involved. It's a very complacent building and they are afraid to ever complain. I'm the landlords least favorite as a consequence. The hot water was out on 3 separate nights and mornings this past week into Monday morning. It was working this morning thankfully but there are no guarantees until the either make the boiler inaccessible to the restaurant or finally hire a reputable boiler repair company!
Thanks again...
Enid (Guest)
Should I start a new posting every time our heat and hot water is out this winter? Just my luck it's out this morning again when I have 2 hours to get showered and wash my hair for an important photo shoot for a corporate client. The timing is always horrible. I am a freelance photographer and I don't have work everyday. How am I supposed to pay my rent that was just raised almost $200 if I can't go to a job with a clean body and hair? This is what they just don't get. Not only that but I leave the water on for a long time thinking it will get hot (as it takes a long time usually to equalize when there is hot water) and it's a complete waste of water and bad for the earth. They pay for the water so you would think it would behoove them to fix the problem with a timer and boiler that is dependable.
Heatwatchnyc (Guest)
Hi Enid,
We recommend you add comments to your post every time you have a problem. You could also call your management company - listed above.
Seth (Guest)
Hi Enid,
My name is Seth, and I work for State Senator Tom Duane. Our office can sometimes be helpful in the sort of situation in which you find yourself; we can also try to connect you with other helpful organizations. If you'd like to talk about what's going on, please call me at 212.633.8052.
Best,
Seth
brr (Guest)
Hmm... If there were no rent control, these problems would go away automatically.
ivette (Guest)
take them to housing court
Enid (Guest)
Went all weekend, last weekend without hot water. It also happened to be a very cold spring weekend. I have no support from anyone else in my building so there is all @#$% to pay if I alone take them to court. The other tenants are absolutely complacent, cowardly, and comatose. They have never supported me in any actions to hold management accountable. The super always makes some lame excuse about why there is no heat or hot water, especially on the weekends. This is a rent-stabilization building owners insidious tactic. Break us down, get us out, flip the apartment, destabilize it. The other tenants are either incredibly naive about their rights or not the lease holders and thus are afraid to complain. It's a vicious cycle that I have endured for 15 years.
Heatwatchnyc (Guest)
Hi Enid,
Thank you for posting - again. I met with staff members of Public Advocate Bill de Blasio during the winter to discuss ways of holding negligent landlords accountable. Please contact Thomas Gray (see his email below) to see if the Public Advocate's office can help you resolve the ongoing heating violations in your building.
You could also contact City Council: (212) 564-7757.
Thanks,
Penny
On Wed, Feb 10, 2010 at 9:47 AM, Thomas Gray <tgray@pubadvocate.nyc.gov> wrote:
Good Morning,
We are thinking of proposing some improvements to the current no heat and hot water program at HPD. We are looking for a building with tenants who have had ongoing issues with no heat. Do you know anyone that may want to be involved in a press conference with us?
Thanks,
Tom Gray
Office of the Public Advocate