Have You Posted Your Gas Leak Notice?

In response to gas-related tragedies throughout New York City, Mayor Bill DeBlasio signed 17 pieces of gas-safety legislation into law in December 2016. The package included Local Law 153 of 2016, which requires building owners to notify tenants of procedures to follow if they suspect a gas leak.

The notification requirement went into effect on June 4, 2017, and applies to all tenant-occupied dwellings, including one- and two-family homes.

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

While the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) has not yet finalized rules regarding this local law, the agency has released a sample notice. Owners should distribute this sample notice with leases and display it in common areas.

In addition, a news article from 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 super 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.

Even though HPD has not issued a final notice, the agency website instructs owners to distribute and post the sample notice immediately. Failure to comply with this requirement may result in a violation.

This information has been provided as a courtesy for New York City landlords, and we hope you find it useful.

Do you have questions concerning your commercial insurance policy? Please call our office at 877-576-5200 or post it below in the comments.