health & safety

Fire escape on brick apartment building in NYC

… It shouldnt take hearing about a devastating fire to prompt you to check safety … to fill out a request form Regarding fire extinguishers NYC fire code doesnt require them except for where … required in all residential buildings with three or more apartments If the doors function correctly they work as a …

By Brick Underground |October 8, 2025 - 9:30AM

faucet with hand of woman in kitchen for cleaning, drinking and washing dishes. Interior, steel and household plumbing with sink and tap at home for stream, flowing and splash

Troubleshooting

I used NYC’s free program to test my apartment’s drinking water for lead. Here’s how you can too

By Celia Young |March 5, 2025 - 3:30PM

Flowering pink-purpleish tree in front of Park Slope Brownstones

Products + Test-drives

5 ways to allergy-proof your NYC apartment

By Celia Young |April 29, 2024 - 12:30PM

In New York City, United States this older residential building viewed from the High Line has old fashioned fire escapes visible on its exterior.

Troubleshooting

How can I check if my NYC apartment building is fire-code compliant?

By Celia Young |March 6, 2024 - 11:34AM

Exterior view of old New York City style architecture apartment building with windows and fire escapes

Roommates + Landlords

Most NYC residential buildings must install natural gas detectors by 2025

By Celia Young |February 26, 2024 - 10:40AM

Troubleshooting

How can I make a neighboring building owner take down scaffolding that's been up for years?

By Celia Young |January 16, 2024 - 5:30PM

Woman feel cold in home with no heating stock photo

Roommates + Landlords

Can my landlord give me a space heater instead of fixing the heat?

By Celia Young |October 16, 2023 - 1:00PM

Smoke from wildfires obscures the Triborough Bridge.

Small Projects + DIY

5 ways to improve the air quality inside your NYC apartment

By Celia Young |July 11, 2023 - 12:30PM

Aerial view of Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Williamsburg Bridges in New York City.

Affordable Housing

The Brick Underground Podcast: Office Hours with Sam Himmelstein

By Emily Myers |May 2, 2023 - 2:30PM

Roommates + Landlords

Ask Sam: My apartment had no hot water for days. Am I entitled to a rent abatement?

… … Yes you are entitled to an abatement but you need to consider whether getting the … tenants are legally entitled to a reduction in their rent Part of the difficulty in securing an abatement in your … a certain amountsay 20 percent of your rent for that monthand deduct that from your next payment Your landlord in …

Sponsored By Himmelstein McConnell Gribben & Joseph LLP |September 28, 2022 - 12:30PM