This week, we asked readers their opinions on the heat and hot water situations where they live amid the ongoing cold snap.

 

“We’ve got hot water but as for the heat, these apartments do not warm up. Right now, it’s like I’m sitting in a refrigerator. The heat comes up but it’s not hot enough. I don’t have a thermometer, but I called 311, they came, and he took the reading and the apartment was 62 degrees and that’s what the landlord must have it at, but it doesn’t stay at 62 constantly. So, when he came, they had just put the heat on for like 20 minutes and then it went off, so when the inspector came, the apartment was warm. They didn’t know the inspector was coming, but they keep the heat on a timer. Like right now, my wife is walking around with a hoodie on, two pairs of socks. I really don’t get cold like that, but I think about my wife. I think about my mother. The landlord needs to leave the heat on constantly, even if it’s on low. It’s not good when you turn the heat off.”

David Ruiz,

Botanical Square

“Unfortunately, we have been without gas since September 2025. Now, it’s wintertime, and most of the time we don’t have heat or hot water. I have three young children and one on the way, and my children are cold at night and they must sleep with hoodies and sweatpants on, and blankets over their heads to try and stay warm. Imagine being in a warm school during the day and having to come home to a cold house and freeze all night long. In the mornings, we don’t have hot water so I have to boil some water so we can get our day started.”

Shannelle Bailey,

Morrisania

“Not having sufficient heat during these bitter cold days and nights is a battle within itself. It’s hard to sleep, it’s hard to function, it’s hard to maintain and contain heat safely. It’s very worrisome. It’s challenging for myself and two minor children trying to keep them warm on a day-to-day basis so basic functionalities can be performed, like taking a bath and stepping out into a warm apartment and not risking illness due to the temperature in the house.”

Autumn Edmonds,

Morrisania

“The heat situation? Some days it works and some days it’s not working at all, and you’ve got to use a heater. When you call the managing agent, he tells you to call the actual owner, and when you call the owner, he doesn’t pick up the phone. Then you call 311 and the inspector comes and they blast the heat for a day, and then for the next six days it’s freezing here again. I think the inspectors are paid off to be honest with you, because there’s a lot of violations in this building and they are never fixed.”

John Hand,

Norwood

“It’s been in the single digits, and our heat has been on and off. Our landlord owns multiple properties, and this has been a growing issue for years. If one building has heat or hot water, the other one doesn’t. It’s been really, really cold. When you’re at home, you have to layer up with your socks and hoodies, and use space heaters. Nothing is really enough to fight against how cold it’s been, and when you call 311, there’s really no enforcement. Landlords basically get away with it while the poor people suffer.”

Aysha Shaikh,

Norwood

 

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