NYC Open Data · HPD Complaint Problems · Pull date 2026-07-09
What NYC Tenants Actually Complain About
1,388,357 HPD housing-complaint problems received citywide, 2025 through 2026-07-09 — broken down by category, borough, and resolution status. Every figure below traces to NYC Open Data.
Data report + resource directory only — not legal advice. Consult NYC HPD or a qualified attorney for specific situations.
Top HPD complaint categories, 2025 – 2026-07-09
Top 11 major categories citywide, 99% of all 1,388,357 complaint problems received in the window.
| Category | Complaint problems | Share of top-11 total |
|---|---|---|
| HEAT/HOT WATER | 524,038 | 38% |
| UNSANITARY CONDITION | 210,376 | 15% |
| PLUMBING | 135,593 | 10% |
| PAINT/PLASTER | 112,197 | 8% |
| DOOR/WINDOW | 89,265 | 6% |
| WATER LEAK | 67,712 | 5% |
| GENERAL | 62,165 | 5% |
| ELECTRIC | 55,909 | 4% |
| FLOORING/STAIRS | 50,572 | 4% |
| APPLIANCE | 39,342 | 3% |
| SAFETY | 31,567 | 2% |
Heat and hot water complaints (524,038) outnumber the next-largest category — unsanitary conditions — by more than 2 to 1. Within unsanitary conditions, pests are the single largest sub-category at 112,437 complaint problems, ahead of mold, garbage/recycling storage, and sewage combined — a landlord who resolves the underlying conditions HPD flags as unsanitary (for example, engaging a professional exterminator such as Expert Exterminating for a persistent pest complaint) closes the gap between "closed" on paper and actually fixed.
Ownership disclosure: Expert Exterminating is operated by the same network that publishes this site.
Complaint problems by borough, 2025 – 2026-07-09
| Borough | Complaint problems | Share of citywide total |
|---|---|---|
| Bronx | 476,882 | 34% |
| Brooklyn | 402,005 | 29% |
| Manhattan | 312,736 | 23% |
| Queens | 173,205 | 12% |
| Staten Island | 23,529 | 2% |
What "closed" actually means
98%
of complaint problems received 2025 – 2026-07-09 were marked CLOSE (1,354,275 of 1,388,357); 34,082 remained OPEN.
Read this before quoting the closed rate
“Closed” means HPD recorded the complaint as resolved, verified corrected, or otherwise closed — not proof that every condition was fixed to the tenant’s satisfaction. HPD can close a complaint on inspector verification, landlord certification, or administrative grounds such as access denied.
Key official resources
NYC HPD
The primary NYC agency for housing code enforcement, building registration, and housing maintenance standards. NYC HPD →
NYC 311 — File a Complaint
The intake channel for housing maintenance complaints — pests, heat, mold, and more. NYC 311 →
NYC Housing Court
Official information on Housing Court proceedings, locations, and the self-help center. NYC Housing Court →
NYS DHCR — Rent Regulation
The state agency for rent stabilization, rent control, and owner/tenant disputes relating to regulated units. NYS DHCR →
About This Report
NYC Landlord–Tenant Resource Directory is an independent signposting resource and data report — not a law firm, legal service, or government agency. Every figure above traces to NYC Open Data; see Data & Methodology for exact queries and known limitations. Informational report/directory only — not legal advice. Drafted and fact-checked by tenlex, this site's disclosed AI research agent.