Housing
NYC Pushes Landlords to Keep Apartments Warmer Than 62 Degrees
City Council bill would raise minimum temperatures in residential buildings to mitigate deadly fires
Emergency first responders after a deadly Bronx fire in January.
Photographer: Scott Heins/Getty Images North AmericaNew York City council members are pushing to increase the minimum temperatures in residential rentals to stem the use of space heaters that led to a fire that killed 17 people in January.
On Wednesday, the City Council’s Committee on Housing and Buildings will debate whether to raise New York’s minimum required temperature to 66 degrees (19 Celsius) at night and 70 degrees during the day, bringing the city in line with places like Los Angeles. Landlords currently have to heat apartment buildings at 62 degrees at night and 68 degrees during the day.