There’s a lot to consider when choosing an apartment to rent, from size and location to the amenities offered. You probably also want to know if there have been any NYC building complaints against the prospective landlord or management company. For example, has the building dealt with bed bugs, trash removal problems, broken windows, or heat and hot water complaints? Luckily, there is a simple way to get this information, including historical violations, so you know if an apartment has had any issues.

Manhattan Rentals Under $3,000 on StreetEasy Article continues below

Yorkville

1592 Second Avenue

$2,795 No Fee

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1

East Harlem

414 East 120th Street

$2,940 No Fee

1 |

1

Hell’s Kitchen

417 West 56th Street

$2,895 No Fee

Studio |

1

Murray Hill

238 East 36th Street

$2,795 No Fee

Studio |

1

Morningside Heights

3135 Broadway

$2,700 No Fee

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1

Hell’s Kitchen

410 West 51st Street

$2,800 No Fee

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1

Upper West Side

102 West 80th Street

$2,750 No Fee

Studio |

1

Yorkville

214 East 82nd Street

$2,750 No Fee

1 |

1

South Harlem

235 Lenox Avenue

$1,950 No Fee

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1

East Village

71 First Avenue

$2,495 No Fee

Studio |

1

East Harlem

1910 Third Avenue

$2,520 No Fee

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1

Hamilton Heights

507 West 139th Street

$2,950 No Fee

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1

Research NYC Building Complaints on Reviews Sites

We all know New Yorkers aren’t afraid to share their opinions on review sites about restaurants, doctors, and more. Thankfully, this impulse extends to publicly sharing thoughts on NYC buildings. Likewise, tenants often leave reviews of buildings and management companies on Google Reviews and even Yelp.  There are also additional online reviews sites for landlords. You can do a quick Google search to see what’s available.

Brooklyn Rentals Under 3,000 on StreetEasy Article continues below

East Flatbush

3415 Farragut Road

$2,749 No Fee

2 |

1

East Flatbush

3415 Farragut Road

$2,499 No Fee

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1

Greenpoint

1071 Manhattan Avenue

$3,000 No Fee

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1

East Flatbush

3310 Avenue H

$1,795 No Fee

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1

Park Slope

924 President Street

$2,795 No Fee

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1

Greenwood

155 25th Street

$3,000 No Fee

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1

Stuyvesant Heights

924 Jefferson Avenue

$3,000 No Fee

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1

Brooklyn Heights

8 Clark Street

$2,650 No Fee

Studio |

1

Williamsburg

379 South First Street

$3,000 No Fee

Studio |

1

Weeksville

1656 Saint Johns Place

$1,726 No Fee

Studio |

1

Bay Ridge

610 67th Street

$2,500 No Fee

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1

Canarsie

1322 East 87th Street

$3,000 No Fee

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1.5

Research NYC Landlord Complaints With the Department of Buildings

Aside from Googling reviews, the easiest way to find out the status of a building is to search the NYC Department of Buildings (DOB) information system. Finding your building is easy:

• Select your borough from the dropdown menu
• Enter the building number in the “House number” field
• Enter the street in the “Street” field 
• Press “Go”

You can also search by block and lot, as well as Building Identification Number (BIN).  The results will show you the complaints filed with DOB and all violations and share if the complaints were resolved. 

“Typically, when a person files a complaint against a landlord, they will call 311, and that will lead to an inspection of the building,” Shaun Pappas, Partner at Starr law firm, told StreetEasy. “At the inspection, DOB may issue a violation, and that is recorded on their system and website. It could be an elevator violation, for instance. Then the owner will need to clear the violation by addressing it.”

Keep in mind that most buildings have some form of violations issued from time to time, and that doesn’t mean the owner is actively doing something wrong. But the type and frequency of the violations can help shed light on potential issues. 

Consider the dates of the complaints — are they recent or from a decade ago? “A one-time issue can be overlooked. However, if the issues are plentiful and ongoing, there is a cause of concern,” said Karen Kostiw, an agent for Warburg Realty.

Queens Rentals Under $3,000 on StreetEasy Article continues below

Hammels

167 B 95th Street

$2,500 No Fee

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1

Kew Gardens

83-71 116th Street

$2,200 No Fee

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1

Astoria

25-36 38th Street

$2,200 No Fee

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1

Kew Gardens

132-77 Metropolitan Avenue

$2,288 No Fee

Studio |

1

Jamaica

88-50 179th Street

$1,650 No Fee

Studio |

1

Forest Hills

65-10 108th Street

$2,650 No Fee

2 |

1

Astoria

25-50 41st Street

$1,700 No Fee

Studio |

1

Sunnyside

39-54 51st Street

$2,995 No Fee

2 |

1

Sunnyside

39-54 51st Street

$2,350 No Fee

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1

Rego Park

64-62 Booth Street

$2,500 No Fee

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1

Rego Park

64-35 Dieterle Crescent

$2,795 No Fee

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2

Astoria

31-22 44th Street

$2,500 No Fee

2 |

1

Check Out the Department of Housing Preservation and Development

Another government agency you can use to research NYC building complaints is the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD). Like DOB, any official violation or complaint (made via 311) that has been documented is now public record through the HPD website. The main difference is it only features complaints from the last year, but it is another resource that documents many different types of complaints, from mold to vermin.

Other NYC Landlord Complaint Resources

Besides code and law violations reported to DOB and HPD, other entities help you research NYC building complaints history.

• Check the Landlord Watch List: The City Public Advocate has a list of the worst landlords in the city. You can search by building or  landlord.
• Review Rent Stabilization Complaints: New York State’s Division of Housing and Community Renewal lets you search for complaints regarding rent-stabilized rents and your apartment’s regulation history.
• Contact the Management Company: You can try inquiring with the management company of a building about any issue that concerns you, such as pests, noise, and more. How much they will disclose is unclear.

Increased Protections for Renters

Though the city’s agencies are there to help field and file NYC building complaints for tenants to access easily, they’re also continually working to improve living conditions for renters in general. 

For example, in 2017, the city announced Universal Access to Counsel. So, by 2022 every tenant facing an eviction case will have access to free legal services. FYI, New York state lawmakers voted to extend an eviction moratorium until at least January 15, 2022. 
This follows the passing of stronger rent protection laws in June of 2019. These include increased protections for tenants in rent-stabilized and rent-controlled apartments and increased protection against eviction for all NYC renters. Additionally, the amount landlords can charge for a background or credit check is $20, and security deposits (which now must be returned to tenants no more than 14 days after an apartment is vacated) are limited to one month’s rent.