New York S5200: The Bill That Could Transform NYCHA Mold Response

For the 450,000 residents living in New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) apartments, mold has been a persistent and dangerous problem for decades. Now, a bill working its way through the New York State Legislature could fundamentally change how quickly the nation's largest public housing authority must respond to mold complaints.

Senate Bill S5200, introduced by Senator James Sanders Jr., would require NYCHA to remediate any reported mold within 15 days of receiving notice from a tenant. If passed, it would create one of the strictest mold response timelines for public housing in the country. But the bill faces an uncertain path forward, and understanding its provisions, its chances of passage, and what it would mean for residents is crucial for anyone living in NYCHA housing.

What Senate Bill S5200 Would Do

The bill's requirements are straightforward but significant:

• 15-day remediation deadline: Upon receiving a mold complaint from any tenant, NYCHA would have exactly 15 days to complete mold remediation
• 60-day follow-up inspection: After remediation, NYCHA must reinspect the dwelling unit within 60 days to ensure mold has been successfully removed
• Applies to all NYCHA properties: The requirements would cover all 176,000 apartments across 2,400 buildings

The companion Assembly bill (A446), introduced by Assembly Member Khaleel Anderson, contains identical provisions and is moving through the lower chamber simultaneously.

Why This Bill Matters: The Scale of NYCHA's Mold Crisis

The statistics paint a troubling picture of mold in New York's public housing. According to federal monitors overseeing NYCHA, 84 percent of mold complaints between February and October 2024 involved mold spanning 10 or more feet. HUD requirements state that no more than 15 percent of mold in apartments should be that large.

Currently, NYCHA's performance on mold remediation falls far short of acceptable standards:

• Only 31% of complex mold repairs are completed within the required 15 days
• NYCHA met mold remediation timelines only 12% of the time overall
• Over 90,000 work orders remained in a backlog as of recent reports

The health effects on residents have been severe. According to surveys, two-thirds of NYCHA residents with mold in their apartments reported that conditions affected their physical health or a family member's health. One in three residents with mold report respiratory issues as a direct result. These health impacts fall disproportionately on vulnerable populations, as residents of public housing have higher rates of chronic conditions like asthma.

Current Status: Where the Bill Stands

As of January 2026, S5200 remains in the Senate Committee on Housing, Construction and Community Development. The bill was introduced on February 19, 2025, read twice, and ordered printed before being assigned to committee.

This is not the first time such legislation has been proposed. Similar bills were referred to the same committee in both the 2019-2020 and 2021-2022 legislative sessions without advancing to a floor vote.

For the bill to become law, it must:

1. Pass out of the Senate Housing Committee
2. Receive a vote on the Senate floor
3. Pass out of the Assembly Housing Committee
4. Receive a vote on the Assembly floor
5. Be signed by the Governor

The Legal Background: Baez v. NYCHA

Understanding S5200 requires understanding the Baez litigation, the only case in recent history to impose court oversight on NYCHA. The lawsuit, brought by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), resulted in a settlement requiring federal oversight of NYCHA's mold remediation activities.

The settlement established specific timelines: seven days for simple mold repairs and 15 days for complex repairs. However, NYCHA has consistently failed to meet these requirements. An Ombudsperson was appointed to handle complaints when NYCHA fails to comply, and the Ombudsperson Call Center has overseen completion of more than 90,000 work orders over three years, resolving escalated complaints for over 17,500 tenants.

The critical concern is what happens when the three-year settlement period expires. S5200 would codify these requirements into state law, ensuring they remain enforceable even after federal oversight ends.

Why NYCHA Struggles with Mold

The root causes of NYCHA's mold problem go beyond simple negligence. The authority points to decades of funding disinvestment, aging infrastructure, and particularly severe plumbing problems across its aging building stock. Most NYCHA buildings were constructed before 1970, and many bathroom ventilation systems are inadequate for removing moisture.

Federal monitors have identified bathroom ventilation as a primary culprit. Evidence of mold growth was seen throughout the NYCHA system, with bathrooms showing the most prevalent problems due to inadequate ventilation that fails to properly remove moisture.

What Tenants Should Know

Whether or not S5200 passes, NYCHA tenants have rights and resources available now:

Document Everything

If you discover mold in your NYCHA apartment, thorough documentation is essential. Take clear photos and videos of all mold growth, noting the date and location. Keep records of any health symptoms you or family members experience. Document all communications with NYCHA about the issue.

Report Properly

Submit your mold complaint through official NYCHA channels and keep copies of all submissions. If NYCHA fails to respond within required timeframes, contact the Ombudsperson Call Center (OCC), which handles escalated mold and leak complaints.

Know Your Health Rights

If you're experiencing health effects from mold exposure, seek medical attention and keep records linking your symptoms to mold exposure. Common symptoms include respiratory issues, allergic reactions, and worsening asthma. Some residents have reported more severe effects from long-term exposure.

What to Watch For

Several factors will determine whether S5200 becomes law:

• Committee movement: Watch for the bill to be voted out of the Senate Housing Committee
• Assembly companion bill progress: A446 must advance simultaneously
• Budget implications: NYCHA's ability to comply may require additional funding
• Governor's position: Executive support will be crucial for final passage

Tenant advocates are cautiously optimistic but acknowledge the bill's uncertain prospects given its history of stalling in committee.

The Broader Implications

If passed, S5200 could set a precedent for other public housing authorities nationwide. NYCHA is the largest public housing authority in the country, and its mold problems are not unique. Legislation mandating specific remediation timelines could become a model for other jurisdictions struggling with similar issues.

For now, the bill represents hope for hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers living with mold in their homes. Whether that hope translates into law depends on the legislative process and continued pressure from tenant advocates.

How to Take Action

If you support S5200, consider:

• ✓Contacting your state senator and assembly member to express support
• ✓Sharing your mold experiences with tenant advocacy organizations
• ✓Attending public hearings on housing issues
• ✓Connecting with groups like NRDC that advocate for NYCHA tenant rights

For more information on tenant rights regarding mold in New York, visit our comprehensive guide to New York mold laws, which covers both state and local protections available to all renters.