Hornell, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 178 § 178-69
Responsibilities of owners
Operative Text
A. Owners of premises shall be responsible for compliance with the housing standards and shall remain responsible therefor regardless of the fact that this Part 3 may also place certain responsibilities on operators and occupants and regardless of any agreements between owners and operators or occupants as to which party shall assume such responsibility. B. Owners of premises shall be responsible for the proper maintenance, condition and operation of service facilities and for furnishing an adequate heat and hot-water supply in multiple dwellings.
Section 178-69 of Hornell's Code of Ordinances establishes that property owners bear ultimate responsibility for compliance with local housing standards, even when operators or occupants also carry certain duties under Part 3. Private agreements between owners and other parties—such as leases or management contracts—do not shift this legal responsibility away from the owner. Additionally, owners of multiple dwellings are specifically required to properly maintain service facilities and to provide adequate heat and hot water.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 178-69, compliant property owners in Hornell maintain service facilities—such as plumbing, heating systems, and hot-water equipment—in proper working order regardless of what any lease or management agreement says about who is responsible. Even if a property manager or tenant has taken on certain maintenance duties by contract, the owner remains the party accountable to the city for housing-standard compliance. Operators of multiple dwellings in particular should ensure that heat and hot-water supply systems are consistently adequate and operational.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 178-69 places the duty to meet Hornell's housing standards squarely on the property owner, meaning a landlord cannot use a lease clause or a management agreement to escape responsibility for substandard conditions. Tenants in multiple dwellings have a right to adequate heat and hot water as part of the owner's non-delegable obligations under this provision. Tenants who experience violations may consider documenting the conditions, notifying the owner in writing, and reaching out to Hornell's code enforcement office or a local tenant-rights organization to understand available remedies.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated November 7, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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