OWNER OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE NEW
CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTOR LAW

 

To comply with requirements of the new carbon monoxide detector law, owners must provide written information regarding the testing and maintenance of carbon monoxide alarms to at least one adult occupant of each dwelling unit, including, but not limited to, general information concerning carbon monoxide poisoning and what to do if a CO alarm goes off. Such information may include material that is distributed by the manufacturer or any material prepared or approved by the Department of Buildings.

 

Owners must also post a notice to tenants about the CO alarms in a common area of the building. The notice must have letters not less than three-sixteenths of an inch in height. The lettering must be in bold type and properly spaced to provide good legibility, and the background must be of contrasting color. The notice must be metal, plastic or a decal substantially secured to the common area where it is posted. Lighting should be sufficient to make the notice easily legible.

 

The text of the notice follows:

 

NOTICE:

The owner,__________________, of this building located at_____________________ is required by law to post this notice advising tenants that the owner is required by law to provide a CO alarm in each apartment  in this building within 15 feet of each room lawfully used for sleeping. The law further makes the tenant of each apartment responsible for the maintenance and repair of the alarms installed in the apartment and for replacing any or all alarms that are stolen, removed, missing, or become inoperable during the occupancy of the apartment. The law also provides that the occupant of each Class A apartment in the building in which a CO alarm is provided and installed shall pay the owner $25.00 per alarm for the cost of such work. The occupant has one year from the date of installation to make such payment to the owner.

 

 

Owners are entitled to a reimbursement of twenty-five dollars per device from tenants. Tenants have one year from the date of installation to reimburse owners.

 

Owners must replace any stolen, missing or inoperable CO alarm in any vacant unit. They have 30 calendar days to replace any alarm that becomes inoperable through no fault of the tenant, after receipt of written notice.

 

The following records must be kept on the premises, unless another location is approved by HPD, relating to installation and maintenance of CO alarms in the building:

 

1)      date notice is posted in common area of building;

2)      date of installation of each CO alarm;

3)      whether each CO alarm receives its primary power from the building wiring or whether it is a battery-operated alarm;

4)      apartment number and location within apartment where each alarm was installed;

5)      date each alarm tested to determine if it is in operable condition;

6)      maintenance work performed on each alarm; and

7)      date occupant requested replacement/repair.

 

These records must be made available to HPD, DOB, the Fire Department, or the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene upon request.

 

Owners must also file a certification of satisfactory installation within 10 days after completion with the HPD Borough Division of Code Enforcement in the borough where the dwelling is located. This certification shall be set forth on a form available at each HPD Borough Office and/or on HPD’s website.

 

RSA will update this notice if changes warrant.
 

Rent Stabilization Association of NYC, Inc.
123 William Street New York, NY 10038-3804 Tel: (212) 214-9200 Fax: (212) 732-0618