Mold in an NYC apartment: reporting, repairs, and tenant next steps

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If you find suspected mold or a persistent leak, report the location and condition to your landlord and keep the response. New York City's Local Law 55 requires owners of buildings with three or more apartments to address indoor mold hazards and the conditions causing them. HPD guidance

NYC received 38,278 mold complaints in fiscal year 2025, covering July 2024 through June 2025. This measures reports to HPD, not the number of individual apartments with confirmed mold. HPD annual report, table 1

HPD guidance · Source checked 2026-09-06

Record both the mold concern and the leak

Use the tenant worksheet to organize photos, dates, rooms, and repair tickets. Include earlier painting or cleanup and when the discoloration or dampness returned. Ask management for a written inspection and repair plan. For exposure and cleanup precautions, read the shared tenant guide.

For a private rental, use 311 if the hazard persists

HPD advises contacting the landlord first, then calling 311 or filing online if the hazard is not fixed or work is unsafe. If you or your child has asthma, ask your doctor about the city's free home environmental inspection referral. HPD tenant instructions and online complaint link

Save the complaint number. Keep a list of the affected locations so an inspector can see the complete concern. Record any attempted visits and make arrangements for access.

HPD tenant instructions and online complaint link · Source checked 2026-09-06

NYCHA residents have a separate escalation route

Report the problem through MyNYCHA or the Customer Contact Center at 718-707-7771. If previously reported mold, leaks, or related repairs remain unresolved, NYCHA identifies the independent Ombudsperson Call Center at 888-341-7152 as an escalation option. Keep the original repair request numbers handy. NYCHA instructions

NYCHA instructions · Source checked 2026-09-06

Ask what the repair will address

Useful questions include: Where is the water coming from? Which materials will be repaired or removed? Is ventilation or HVAC work part of the scope? How will the contractor verify that the area is dry?

New York City has specific safe-work and licensing requirements. For example, HPD identifies a requirement for independent licensed mold assessment and remediation when there is more than 10 square feet of mold in a residential property with 10 or more units. Check the applicable scope rather than assuming every cleaning job follows the same rule. HPD owner requirements

HPD owner requirements · Source checked 2026-09-06

When repairs remain unresolved

New York Courts explains how tenants can begin an HP proceeding to seek repairs after contacting the landlord. Prepare a room-by-room list of conditions and follow the court's current filing instructions. A proceeding is a process for requesting relief, not a guarantee of a particular result. Court repair guide

For advice about rent, retaliation concerns, or a proposed lease termination, contact local legal assistance with your records. For equipment questions, use our HVAC guide to discuss the inspection with management; tenants should not assume they can authorize building alterations.

Court repair guide · Source checked 2026-09-06