Residents in East Harlem are suing their landlord and the city Department of Housing Preservation and Development, claiming they have had only sporadic heat or hot water.

During a protest outside their building on East 115th Street, organizers said their landlord, Ramon Santos, has not provided heat or hot water for many winters, conditions that are illegal in the city.

Residents said they are forced to wear their coats inside their apartments and bathe with water heated on the stove.

They are claim HPD officials failed to enforce housing standards.

"We want justice. What we want is for the city to enforce the local housing code. The tenants have rights and we're going to continue organizing until there is dignified housing."

Santos said he brought in a repairman to fix the boiler and said he plans to replace it this summer.

HPD officials said they provided the oil to get the boiler working because the owner failed to do it.