New York City is in crisis as a record number of residents are complaining about lack of heat and hot water in their homes amid the ongoing frigid weather. Nearly 80,000 complaints have been filed to the city's 311 system in January, according to the Department of Housing Preservation and Development, which has seen a significant spike in heat-related issues.
The agency, which enforces heat regulations for rental units, said about 37,000 of those complaints remained when duplicates were excluded - a new record for the month. Officials claim that 98% of last month's complaints have been closed out as of Wednesday.
However, many residents are finding it difficult to stay warm in their homes. In a mixed-use building in the Bronx, Angelette Waring has been dealing with inconsistent heat and hot water for months. The 40-year-old resident said it feels like harassment, citing the building's management refusing to fix issues despite repeated complaints.
The building is owned by a limited liability company that had its lender sue to foreclose on the property in early 2024. A receiver was appointed to oversee the building and address chronic problems last spring, while a new property management company took over in October 2025.
While the new management claims they are working to improve conditions at the building, residents like Waring remain skeptical. The lack of heat has taken a toll on their health and well-being, with many struggling to cope with the freezing temperatures.
NYCHA's Amsterdam Addition development on the Upper West Side is another example of how severe the issue is. Over 300 residents were left without heat and hot water on Thursday, while nearly 6,000 had their services restored after unplanned outages in the past day.
The city has faced criticism for its response to the crisis, with many calling for faster action. NYCHA spokesperson Michael Horgan said that the agency takes a proactive approach to extreme weather events but acknowledges that resolving heat-related issues can be complex.
Landlords and property owners say that fixing these issues requires coordination between multiple agencies, utilities, and professionals - a process that can take time. The New York Apartment Association said that turning on the heat quickly is not something a building owner can do alone.
The city's struggle to address heat-related complaints has been exacerbated by the recent winter storm, which dumped over a foot of snow on local streets and disrupted commutes and trash pickup. Authorities have reported at least 17 deaths related to hypothermia in the past two weeks, highlighting the severity of the crisis.
As forecasters warn of more extreme cold temperatures expected this weekend, residents are being urged to look out for one another and report heat-related issues to city authorities.
The agency, which enforces heat regulations for rental units, said about 37,000 of those complaints remained when duplicates were excluded - a new record for the month. Officials claim that 98% of last month's complaints have been closed out as of Wednesday.
However, many residents are finding it difficult to stay warm in their homes. In a mixed-use building in the Bronx, Angelette Waring has been dealing with inconsistent heat and hot water for months. The 40-year-old resident said it feels like harassment, citing the building's management refusing to fix issues despite repeated complaints.
The building is owned by a limited liability company that had its lender sue to foreclose on the property in early 2024. A receiver was appointed to oversee the building and address chronic problems last spring, while a new property management company took over in October 2025.
While the new management claims they are working to improve conditions at the building, residents like Waring remain skeptical. The lack of heat has taken a toll on their health and well-being, with many struggling to cope with the freezing temperatures.
NYCHA's Amsterdam Addition development on the Upper West Side is another example of how severe the issue is. Over 300 residents were left without heat and hot water on Thursday, while nearly 6,000 had their services restored after unplanned outages in the past day.
The city has faced criticism for its response to the crisis, with many calling for faster action. NYCHA spokesperson Michael Horgan said that the agency takes a proactive approach to extreme weather events but acknowledges that resolving heat-related issues can be complex.
Landlords and property owners say that fixing these issues requires coordination between multiple agencies, utilities, and professionals - a process that can take time. The New York Apartment Association said that turning on the heat quickly is not something a building owner can do alone.
The city's struggle to address heat-related complaints has been exacerbated by the recent winter storm, which dumped over a foot of snow on local streets and disrupted commutes and trash pickup. Authorities have reported at least 17 deaths related to hypothermia in the past two weeks, highlighting the severity of the crisis.
As forecasters warn of more extreme cold temperatures expected this weekend, residents are being urged to look out for one another and report heat-related issues to city authorities.
This is insane! 80k complaints about no heat and hot water in NYC is just ridiculous. How can a building be left without heat when it's freezing outside? 
It's not just the residents who are suffering, but also their health and well-being. I feel for Angelette Waring and everyone else stuck in this nightmare.
. I mean, 98% of complaints closed out after a month doesn't sound like progress to me. What's taking so long? And I don't buy the "it takes time" excuse from landlords and property owners. They need to step up their game and figure out how to keep heat on for people who can't afford it or have other health issues.
It sounds like a bunch of empty promises to me. We need concrete action, like emergency funding or temporary solutions, not just "we're working on it". The fact that over 300 residents are still without heat and hot water is unacceptable. This city needs to step up its game and prioritize the people living here 
this is so not fair 
80k complaints?! how are they even supposed to fix all this on time? 
️ the new management sounds legit but i'm sure many residents like angelette are gonna keep on complaining till things get fixed 
meanwhile, lets send some warmth & care to those in need 
anyway, im not sayin the new management is all bad or anythin, but they need 2 step up their game & do somethin about these heat problems ASAP 
. I mean, 80k complaints in Jan alone? That's just crazy talk! 
And poor Angelette, stuck in that freezing building with no heat or hot water... it's like her building management is just trolling her at this point 
. The city's response better step up their game, 'cause I'm not feeling the "proactive approach" vibe right now 
. Those 17 hypothermia deaths? Not exactly the kind of thing that makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside 
I'm low-key freaking out thinking about all these ppl struggling w/ no heat & hot water in their homes 
80k complaints is a lotta people, fam! 
. It's not just about the heat, it's about ppl's health & well-being, especially seniors & young kids who can't cope w/ this kinda cold 
or a plan in place to tackle this crisis? 
. And yeah, coordination between agencies sounds like a total nightmare - our school has to deal with stuff like that when there's a water main break or something too 
.
I mean, I know it's winter and all, but I'd expect the city to do more to help out. My grandma used to live in NYC and she always said that rent control was a big deal for people like her... now it seems like it's not being taken seriously enough. 
I'm getting a bad vibe from this whole situation 
. Residents like Angelette Waring have been dealing with this for months and are still being ignored by management 
.
. How many people have lost their health or homes due to these heat-related issues? The numbers say 17 deaths from hypothermia in the past two weeks... that's heartbreaking 
.
. Where are the sources for these numbers? What kind of data is being used to track these complaints? We deserve better than just spin 
.
I'm all for cooperation between agencies and utilities, but not at the expense of people's safety. We need action now, like turn on the heat, fix these issues ASAP! And meanwhile, 17 deaths due to hypothermia is just heartbreaking