HPD — Housing Preservation & Development

The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) is the largest municipal housing agency in the United States. HPD enforces the NYC Housing Maintenance Code, processes tenant complaints, and works to create and preserve affordable housing across all five boroughs.

HPD is responsible for the quality and safety of approximately 850,000 private residential buildings, making it a critical agency for landlords, property managers, investors, and tenants alike. HPD violations are among the most common data points in residential property due diligence.

HPD has jurisdiction over all residential buildings in New York City. The agency enforces:

• NYC Housing Maintenance Code (HMC) — minimum habitability standards
• Multiple Dwelling Law — requirements for buildings with 3+ units
• Local Law 1 — Lead paint requirements for buildings with children under 6
• Heat and hot water requirements (Oct 1 - May 31)
• Building registration requirements for multifamily buildings
• Rent stabilization registration oversight
• Emergency Repair Program (ERP) and Alternative Enforcement Program (AEP)

HPD issues three classes of housing code violations:

• Class A — Non-Hazardous: Minor maintenance issues such as cracked plaster, peeling non-lead paint, or missing doorbell. Owners have 90 days to correct.
• Class B — Hazardous: Conditions affecting health and safety such as broken windows, inadequate hot water, pest infestations, or mold. Owners have 30 days to correct.
• Class C — Immediately Hazardous: Dangerous conditions such as no heat or hot water, no running water, lead paint hazards with children present, or fire escape blockage. Owners have 24 hours to correct.

HPD violations are typically triggered by tenant complaints filed through 311 or directly with HPD. Inspectors visit the property and issue violations for any observed conditions.

HPD can impose civil penalties for failure to correct violations: up to $50 per day for Class A, $50-150 per day for Class B, and $250-500 per day for Class C violations. Buildings with severe and persistent violations may be placed in the Alternative Enforcement Program (AEP), which carries additional fees and scrutiny.

HPD can also issue Emergency Repair Orders, perform repairs directly, and bill the owner. Unpaid HPD emergency repair charges can be added to the property tax bill and included in the annual tax lien sale.

RegWatch integrates complete HPD violation data into every residential property profile. You can see all Class A, B, and C violations with dates, descriptions, and current status. Our system cross-references HPD data with DOB violations and ECB fines to provide a comprehensive compliance picture.

Portfolio monitoring alerts you immediately when new HPD violations are issued against any building in your portfolio, allowing you to respond before penalties escalate. RegWatch also tracks HPD building registration data and rent stabilization indicators.