'Heat Season' Is Here In NYC: Here's What You Need To Know

NEW YORK CITY — Wake up shivering after a recent 50-degree night? Your landlord could be breaking the law.

New York City is in the midst of "heat season" — an eight-month stretch when landlords are required to keep indoor temperatures at 68 degrees when the weather outside is below 55 degrees during the day.

Property owners must provide heat and hot water between Oct. 1 and May 31, said Louise Carroll, commissioner for Housing Preservation & Development.

“If your apartment is without heat or hot water today through May 31st, report it to your landlord," Carroll said in a statement. "If the condition is not corrected, report it to 311. HPD takes every complaint seriously and will use all of its enforcement tools to get heat and hot water restored.”

Here's a quick rundown of what you need to know.

It was 62 degrees in my apartment last night. Can I complain?

Not so fast.

The city does require apartment temperatures to be at least 68 degrees when the weather outside is below 55 degrees — but only during certain, mostly daylight hours.

Those hours are 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

At night from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., indoor temperatures have to be at least 62 degrees regardless of outside weather.

I also don't have hot water. Help?

Building owners must provide hot water at 120 degrees all year.

Alright, I don't have heat or hot water. Now what?

HPD officials recommend first contacting their building owner, managing agent or superintendent.

If that doesn't get service restored, file a complaint with 311 by calling — you guessed it — 311.

They can also visit 311 online or use the 311Mobile app on Android and iOS.

What happens then?

HPD inspectors will respond "as quickly as possible," officials said.

While that "quickly as possible" wait unfolds, tenants can check HPD Online to track their complaint.

Landlords who fail to provide heat entirely will face either an HPD emergency repair program or housing litigation division action to restore heat.

"Multiple complaints from a particular building can and are often the result of one condition in need of repair," a release states.