Watervliet, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 175 § 175-8
Responsibilities of owners
Operative Text
A. Owners of premises shall be responsible for compliance with this chapter and shall remain responsible therefor regardless of the fact that this chapter may also place certain responsibilities on operators and occupants and regardless of any agreements between owners and operators or occupants as to which party shall assume such responsibility. B. Owners of premises shall be responsible for proper maintenance, condition and operation of service facilities and for furnishing adequate heat and hot water supply in multiple dwellings.
Watervliet, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 175 § 175-8 establishes that property owners bear ultimate responsibility for complying with the chapter's housing standards, even when operators or occupants also carry duties under the same rules. Private agreements—such as leases that shift maintenance obligations to tenants—do not relieve an owner of this legal responsibility. Owners are additionally required to keep service facilities properly maintained and to provide adequate heat and hot water in multi-unit dwellings.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 175-8, compliant property owners in Watervliet maintain service facilities in proper working order and ensure that multiple dwellings receive adequate heat and hot water, regardless of what any lease or management agreement says about who handles those duties. Because the ordinance holds owners responsible even when operators or occupants have assumed certain obligations by contract, diligent owners typically monitor compliance directly rather than relying solely on third-party managers or tenants. Keeping records of maintenance activity, service contracts, and utility systems can help demonstrate ongoing compliance with ch. 175.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 175-8 of Watervliet's Code of Ordinances means that a tenant living in a multiple dwelling has a right to adequate heat, hot water, and properly maintained service facilities—and the owner, not just a property manager or another tenant, is legally on the hook for delivering those conditions. If these standards are not being met, tenants may consider documenting the deficiency and reporting it to the appropriate local code-enforcement authority in Watervliet. Tenant-rights organizations familiar with New York housing law can help explain the range of options available under ch. 175 and related state law.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated November 7, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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