N.Y.C. Admin. Code tit. 27, ch. 2 § 27-2143
Action against the owner for recovery of expenses (New York City Housing Maintenance Code)
Operative Text
The department may bring an action against the owner of a dwelling for the recovery of any costs, expenses and disbursements incurred by it under any provision of the administrative code making such expenses a debt recoverable from the owner. The institution of any such action shall not suspend or bar the right to pursue any other remedy provided by law for the recovery of such expenses, and such action may, subject to jurisdictional limitations, be joined with the enforcement of any such other remedy or any other claim against the owner relating to the same premises.
Under N.Y.C. Admin. Code §§ 27-2001 and 27-2143, the city's housing department is authorized to sue a dwelling's owner directly in court to recoup costs, expenses, and disbursements the department has already incurred under applicable provisions of the administrative code. Filing such a lawsuit does not prevent the department from simultaneously pursuing any other legal remedies available for recovering those same expenses. Multiple claims against the same owner related to the same property can be combined into a single legal action, subject to the court's jurisdictional limits.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners subject to N.Y.C. Admin. Code §§ 27-2001 and 27-2143 should be aware that when the city's housing department steps in and incurs costs on a property—such as emergency repairs or code-compliance work—it can seek to recover those expenditures through a direct court action. Compliant operators generally maintain their properties proactively to avoid situations where the department must intervene and then seek reimbursement. Because the department can pursue multiple legal remedies concurrently and consolidate claims, owners may face compounding financial exposure from a single set of conditions at one property.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
For tenants, N.Y.C. Admin. Code §§ 27-2001 and 27-2143 reflect the city's authority to hold owners financially accountable when the housing department has had to spend money addressing conditions at a dwelling. While this provision primarily governs the city's relationship with the owner rather than the tenant's direct rights, it signals that the department has meaningful enforcement tools beyond issuing violations. Tenants who believe their building has unaddressed conditions may consider contacting the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development or a local tenant-rights organization to understand what remedies and complaint processes may be available.
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.
Effective Timeline
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
No inbound references recorded yet for this provision.