NYCHA apartments to get heating improvements ahead of winter

Last winter, a class-action lawsuit was filed by New York Housing Authority (NYCHA) tenants demanding rent refund after more than 80 percent of residents were left without heat. This year, Mayor Bill de Blasio says he has a new strategy to prevent tenants from being left out in cold. De Blasio is directing NYCHA to install new boilers, better windows and improve customer service.

In a press conference announcing the changes, Mayor de Blasio described the automated phone system to track heating repairs, “once the repairs have been made, residents will be notified and they’ll be able to reply back, ‘yes, my heat is coming on’ or ‘no, it’s not.’ If the answer is ‘no, it’s not’ we’ll be able to respond.”

Mayor de Blasio says improvements will affect 87,000 NYCHA residents who suffer chronic heating issues. Boilers will be replaced at 12 developments, and others will be repaired, 7,600 senior apartments will be equipped with new windows designed to lock in heat. In addition, outside vendors will partner with NYCHA to expedite repairs.

Last year was one of the coldest winters on record for New York City.