N.Y.C. Admin. Code tit. 27, ch. 2 § 27-2012
Cleaning of interior of dwelling units (New York City Housing Maintenance Code)
Operative Text
a. The occupant of a dwelling shall maintain the dwelling unit which he or she occupies and controls in a clean and sanitary condition except as provided in subdivision b of this section. b. The owner of all rooming units in a rooming house or an entire multiple dwelling used for single room occupancy, or the person in control of an apartment containing rooming units, shall clean any such unit before any change in occupancy and at least once a week during the period of occupancy and shall at all times maintain the same in a clean and sanitary condition.
Under N.Y.C. Admin. Code §§ 27-2001 et seq. § 27-2012, responsibility for keeping a dwelling unit clean and sanitary is divided between occupants and owners depending on the type of housing. In standard dwelling units, the occupant bears the cleaning responsibility. In rooming houses and single-room-occupancy buildings, however, the owner or person in control must clean each unit before a new occupant moves in and at least once a week while the unit is occupied.
Plain English — not legal advice.
N.Y.C. Admin. Code §§ 27-2001 et seq. § 27-2012 places a heightened cleaning obligation on owners and operators of rooming houses and single-room-occupancy buildings. Compliant operators typically document unit cleanings before each change of occupancy and maintain a regular weekly cleaning schedule throughout any period of occupancy. Keeping written records of these cleanings can help demonstrate ongoing compliance with the provision's sanitary standards.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
N.Y.C. Admin. Code §§ 27-2001 et seq. § 27-2012 gives tenants in rooming houses and SRO buildings a right to receive a clean unit before moving in and weekly cleaning services during their stay. If an owner fails to meet these obligations, tenants may have grounds to raise the violation with the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development or to use the violation as a defense in certain housing proceedings. Tenant-rights organizations in New York City can help residents understand the 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 September 30, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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