Stay Compliant: NYC Gas Leak Notice Requirements for Building Owners
New York City requires building owners and landlords to notify tenants of procedures to follow if they suspect a gas leak. The notification requirement applies to all tenant-occupied dwellings, including one- and two-family homes.
The notice advises tenants to take the following actions in case of a suspected gas leak:
- Open nearby doors and windows and leave the building immediately. Do not try to locate the leak. Do not turn electrical appliances on or off. Do not smoke or light matches or lighters. Do not use either a landline or a cell phone in the building.
- Upon leaving the premises and moving a safe distance away from the building, call 911 to report the leak.
- Call the gas service provider for the building. (The notice should include the provider’s name and contact information.)
Gas Leak Notice Requirements
New York City building owners and/or managing agents need to provide notices of gas leak procedures in two ways:
- Deliver a written notice to each tenant and prospective tenant with every lease or lease renewal
- Post a paper notice in a common area of the building
The Rules of the City of New York, in Section 12-11 of Chapter 12 of Title 28, describe the required format of this notice, and Section 12-12.1 of the same chapter and title allows owners to combine the gas leak notice requirement with the notices for smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors.
Sample Gas Leak Notices
To simplify compliance, the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) has released two sample notices for building owners. One is a standalone notice for gas leaks; the other is a combined notice that also satisfies the additional notice requirements mentioned above, which apply to owners of multiple dwellings (3+ units).
- Sample Notice – Suspected Gas Leak
- Sample Notice – Combined Notice (includes smoke detector and CO alarm notices)
Owners should distribute the appropriate sample notice with leases and display it in common areas.
Failure to comply with this requirement may result in a violation.
Additional Measures for Building Owners
In addition, the Community Housing Improvement Program (CHIP)—an excellent resource for building owners, by the way—recommends making the following changes:
- Add a fourth item that instructs tenants to contact the management company, building staff, or superintendent and notify them of the suspected leak. A contact number may be provided at the owner’s discretion.
- Include a signature line on the form distributed with the lease, where the recipient confirms receipt of the notice.
If you have questions or would like a free review of your commercial insurance policy, please call our office at 877-576-5200.