Property owners of residential buildings should be aware that the annual HPD Property Registration filing period is here. Property registrations must be filed with the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) between May 21^st and August 31^st each year.

Property registration is required for all residential buildings containing three or more dwelling units, as well as one- and two-family homes where neither owner, nor the owner’s immediate family resides at the property.

The purpose of the registration is to ensure that HPD has current ownership and management information on file. This information is used by the City when responding to emergencies, issuing violations, and communicating important notices regarding a property.

Failure to file the required registration can create a number of problems for owners. In addition to potential violations, an owner may be unable to certify correction of HPD violations until a valid registration is on file. This can delay the resolution of violations and create unnecessary complications. Additionally, lack of registration is often a roadblock when an owner is in court with a tenant.

Many owners overlook this requirement which is simple filing. However, failing to register can create issues that are far more difficult and expensive to resolve later.

Additionally, it is important to be aware that as we get further into the registration period HPD’s registration unit tends to backup and the processing time for registrations slows significantly. This means that even if the form is properly submitted before the August 31^st deadline it may not be processed for a few weeks and during that time violations will not be able to be certified as corrected.

Therefore, if you own a property that requires HPD registration, don’t wait until the last minute. Ensuring your registration is current can help avoid violations and keep future compliance matters running smoothly.

If you need assistance filing or updating your registration, our office is happy to help.