Some New York City landlords (such as those for multiple dwellings) are required to register their properties annually with the Housing Preservation & Development department.
Before the COVID pandemic, the HPD office at 100 Gold Street allowed walk-ins every weekday for people who needed same-day assistance registering their properties.
As of Monday, September 11, 2023, at 12:00 PM, the HPD website suggests that same-day walkings are still available for those whose property is not validly registered and need to submit their registration and get a certified copy on the same day:
This ability to get same-day service makes sense for landlords needing a certified copy for the multiple dwelling registration for a housing court case. But the information on HPD's website is misleading.
The information in the screenshot is misleading because it suggests that same-day service is possible by visiting the office at 100 Gold Street in Manhattan. While this fact is true, it hasn't been updated in quite some time because walk-ins can now only come on certain days. COVID changed things.
If you scroll on HPD's same website page, you get information that is current:
So, same-day assistance is no longer possible on most days, despite the website suggesting that landlords who have a court case can "submit [their] registration and get the certified copy on the same day."
I had someone go to 100 Gold Street today but they were turned away by the security officers who gave yet a third rule for when walk-ins are permitted:
Despite three different rules, only one is currently correct: Same-day assistance is only possible on Wednesdays and Thursdays between 9:30 PM and 4:00 PM. You are not permitted to enter the building at other times without an appointment, even if you have a court case pending. You can schedule an appointment, but when I checked, the earliest appointment is for September 19.
HPD's website can be improved to avoid confusion by revising the information drop-down for landlords who need a copy of the Property Registration for court. Even a simple hyperlink that takes readers to the new rule since July 26th would have avoided confusion.
Also, security officers who work at 100 Gold Street should give handouts with the latest information. They gave a handout with a rule that was true beginning June 2nd (presumably of 2022) but, according to the HPD website, has been updated since July 26th (presumably of 2023).
We are all still figuring things out in a post-COVID pandemic reality. I'm happy HPD now allows walk-ins on two days rather than just one, but I wish their website was more carefully updated to avoid confusion.
I hope others will find this post helpful. It might be helpful to landlords that have to register annually with HPD: "Property owners of residential buildings are required by law to register annually with HPD if that residential property is a multiple dwelling (3+ residential units) or a private dwelling (1-2 residential units) where neither the owner nor the owner's immediate family resides." It might also be helpful to building owners who have to register "whenever ownership changes or whenever the information on a valid registration changes (example, new managing agent or site management)."
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