N.Y.C. Admin. Code tit. 27, ch. 2 § 27-2128
Recovery of expenses (New York City Housing Maintenance Code)
Operative Text
All expenses incurred by the department pursuant to section 27-2125 or section 27-2127 of this article shall constitute a debt recoverable from the owner and a lien upon the building and lot, and upon the rents and other income thereof. The provisions of article eight of this subchapter shall govern the effect and enforcement of such debt and lien.
Under N.Y.C. Admin. Code §§ 27-2001 and 27-2128, when the city's housing department spends money to correct conditions at a building—acting under the authority of sections 27-2125 or 27-2127—those costs become a legally enforceable debt owed by the building owner. The debt also attaches as a lien against the property itself and against any rents or other income the property generates. The rules governing how that debt and lien are enforced are set out in article eight of the same subchapter.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers should be aware that under §§ 27-2001 and 27-2128, any remedial work the department carries out on a building—pursuant to its authority under sections 27-2125 or 27-2127—can result in costs that are charged back directly to the owner as a recoverable debt. That debt is secured by a lien on the building, the lot, and the property's rental income stream, meaning it can affect the owner's ability to sell, refinance, or collect rents free of encumbrance. Operators who maintain their properties in compliance with housing maintenance standards generally avoid triggering the department's emergency repair authority in the first place.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
For tenants, §§ 27-2001 and 27-2128 reflect a mechanism that allows the city to step in and address serious building conditions when an owner fails to act, with the costs placed on the owner rather than residents. If a building has unaddressed hazardous conditions, tenants may wish to contact the city's housing department or a local tenant-rights organization to understand whether the department's repair authority under sections 27-2125 or 27-2127 might apply. Tenants can also explore filing complaints through official city channels, which may prompt inspections that set this cost-recovery process in motion.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 14, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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