Mount Vernon, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 149 § 149-59
Responsibilities of owners
Operative Text
A. Owners of premises shall be responsible for compliance with this chapter and shall remain responsible therefor regardless of the fact that this chapter 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 proper maintenance, condition and operation of service facilities and for furnishing adequate heat and hot-water supply in multiple dwellings.
Mount Vernon Code ch. 149 § 149-59 establishes that property owners bear ultimate responsibility for complying with the housing chapter's requirements, even when operators or occupants also have duties under the code and even when private agreements shift those duties to another party. Owners are specifically required to keep service facilities properly maintained and operational, and to provide adequate heat and hot water in multiple dwellings. No contractual arrangement between an owner and a tenant or operator can relieve the owner of these obligations under the code.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Mount Vernon Code ch. 149 § 149-59, compliant property owners 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. Because the ordinance holds owners accountable even when operators or occupants share duties, diligent operators document maintenance schedules, respond promptly to service failures, and do not rely on lease clauses to shift their statutory obligations. Owners of multiple dwellings in particular keep records showing that adequate heat and hot water are consistently furnished to residents.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Mount Vernon Code ch. 149 § 149-59 gives tenants a clear basis to hold property owners accountable for service facility maintenance and the provision of adequate heat and hot water in multiple dwellings, regardless of what a lease may say about tenant or operator responsibilities. If these conditions are not met, tenants may document the deficiency, notify the owner in writing, and explore filing a complaint with the appropriate local housing or code enforcement authority in Mount Vernon. Tenant-rights organizations familiar with Westchester County housing law can help residents understand the range of options available under this provision.
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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