NYCHA ends its cold war

Agency settles suit over heat

NYCHA HAS finally agreed to turn up the heat.

The public housing agency has settled a lawsuit by promising to formally end its bone-chilling policy of refusing to turn up the thermostat overnight unless temps hit 20 degrees.

The suit by Public Advocate Letitia James ended the agency’s cold-hearted effort to save money by keeping the heat off.

A top NYCHA official wrote in an internal email that it was “policy” not to turn on the heat overnight until the temperatures outside fell to 20 degrees or lower, the Daily News revealed in December.

NYCHA officials later confirmed that for years the cruel policy had been in effect — but claimed heat kicked in when temps dipped below the warmer temp of 25 degrees.

NYCHA claimed the rule had been changed to 40 degrees in 2013 — but admitted that about 20% of its 328 developments still followed the 25-degree rule.

The settlement of James’ lawsuit, reached last Friday, makes the new 40-degree policy official.

The settlement also requires NYCHA to maintain heat at 55 degrees inside once the mercury dips to 40 degrees outside.

“For too long, New Yorkers in our public housing have been denied access to safe, decent and warm homes,” James said.

“Because of our settlement, NYCHA will no longer be able to deny tenants heat when the temperature outside is below freezing,” she said.