Thousands of NYC Residents Left Without Heat, Hot Water During Frigid Winter

Mayor Mamdani faces criticism over city's handling of housing crisis amid spike in 311 complaints

Published on Feb. 5, 2026

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As temperatures plunged into the single digits this winter, tens of thousands of New York City residents say they were left without heat or hot water, fueling outrage and renewed criticism of Mayor Zohran Mamdani's handling of the city's housing crisis. City records show January brought an unprecedented surge in heat-related complaints, with roughly 80,000 calls to 311 reporting apartments without adequate heat or hot water.

Why it matters

The surge in complaints has intensified scrutiny of City Hall, as critics argue enforcement has failed to protect tenants during extreme cold. The crisis has also renewed focus on aging infrastructure in the city's public housing system, where long-standing maintenance issues continue to trigger breakdowns during cold snaps.

The details

Across Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx, residents described unlivable conditions as heating systems failed for days at a time. Some tenants reported heat shutting off overnight during the coldest hours, while others said they went weeks without consistent hot water. In private buildings, tenants said unresponsive management forced them to rely on space heaters, boiling water, or temporary stays with friends or in hotels. Public housing residents reported similar failures, with some apartments lacking steady heat for most of January.

  • In January 2026, New York City experienced one of the coldest stretches of the winter season, with overnight temperatures dropping as low as 4 degrees.
  • The spike in 311 heat-related complaints coincided with the extreme cold weather in January 2026.

The players

Zohran Mamdani

The mayor of New York City who is facing criticism over the city's handling of the housing crisis and failure to protect tenants during the extreme cold weather.

New York City residents

Tens of thousands of residents across Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx who were left without adequate heat or hot water during the frigid winter temperatures.

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What’s next

City officials say crews are responding to outages and investing in heating upgrades, but many residents argue those efforts have not provided immediate relief.

The takeaway

The crisis highlights the urgent need for the city to address the aging infrastructure and maintenance issues in its public housing system, as well as strengthen enforcement of housing regulations to protect vulnerable tenants during extreme weather events.