Water Not Hot Enough

Port Washington, Long Island, tenants complained of reduced building-wide services. Tenants claimed there wasn't enough hot water. Landlord argued that a Department of Health inspector found that there was enough hot water in the apartments if the hot water was first run for 10-15 minutes. A DHCR inspector found that the water in seven apartments was between 90 and 98 degrees---not the required 120 degrees. So, the DRA reduced tenants' rent. Landlord later asked the DRA to restore the rent. The DRA found that landlord was supplying adequate hot water, and restored the rents. Tenants appealed, and won. A second DHCR inspection in 1990 showed that the hot water temperature was 10 degrees below the required level. The DRA had mistakenly ignored the second inspector's report. The hot water wasn't hot enough. And tenants shouldn't have to run their hot water for 10–15 minutes to get it to reach 120 degrees.

McCord: DHCR Adm. Rev. Dckt. No. FE 720279-RT (8/12/94) [3-page document]