In New York City, Local Law 55 of 2018 requires that owners of buildings with three or more apartments keep their tenants’ apartments free of mold and pests. This includes safely fixing the conditions that cause these problems.
If you observe a leak, signs of mold growth, or the presence of pests, notify your landlord. If your landlord does not fix the hazard, or if repair work is not being done safely file a complaint online or call 311.
Tenants also play a role in preventing indoor allergens. Tenants should: Keep homes clean and dry. Place food in sealed containers, keep counters and sinks clean, and get rid of clutter such as newspapers and paper bags. Use garbage cans with tight-fitting lids. Take garbage and recycling out every day, and tie up garbage bags before removing them from your apartment. Avoid using pesticides and chemicals with strong smells.
Annually inspect units for indoor allergen hazards such as mice, cockroaches, rats and mold, and respond to any complaints received directly from tenants or HPD. Make sure vacant apartments are thoroughly cleaned and free of pests and mold before a new tenant moves in.
Remediate pest infestation. Use Integrated Pest Management (IPM) to address pest infestations. The safe work practices in Section 27-2017.9 of Local Law 55 and 28 Rules of the City of New York section 54-04 must be followed when assessing and correcting any underlying defects (such as moisture) that may have caused the infestation
Conduct inspections in a timely manner for mold and pest complaints. During every apartment inspection, ask whether there is mold, mice, roaches, or rats, and issue violations as appropriate. Reinspect all Class B violations if the violation has not been certified as corrected by the owner. Notify both owners and tenants about the issuance of mold, mice, roaches, or rat violations.
If you need more Information, click the following link for the PDF file of Local Law 55.
https://www1.nyc.gov/assets/buildings/local_laws/ll55of2018.pdf