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.
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Manhattan Rentals Under $3,000 on StreetEasyArticle continues below
Central Harlem
250 West 137th Street
$2,000No Fee
1 |
1
West Village
1 Bank Street
$2,995No Fee
Studio |
1
Fort George
612 West 182nd Street
$2,995No Fee
3 |
1
Lower East Side
126 Ludlow Street
$2,795No Fee
1 |
1
Washington Heights
508 West 172nd Street
$2,295No Fee
2 |
1
Manhattanville
3333C Broadway
$2,384No Fee
1 |
1
East Village
185 East Second Street
$3,000No Fee
1 |
1
Fort George
367 Wadsworth Avenue
$2,650No Fee
2 |
1
Inwood
240 Nagle Avenue
$2,150No Fee
1 |
1
Washington Heights
500 West 171st Street
$2,295No Fee
2 |
1
Lenox Hill
1420 York Avenue
$2,700No Fee
Studio |
1
Yorkville
1665 First Avenue
$2,300No Fee
Studio |
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 StreetEasyArticle continues below
Brownsville
950 Rutland Road
$2,350No Fee
2 |
1
Park Slope
102 Berkeley Place
$3,000No Fee
1 |
1
East New York
2886 Atlantic Avenue
$2,495No Fee
1 |
1
Wingate
670 Maple Street
$2,890No Fee
3 |
1
East Flatbush
1595 New York Avenue
$2,799No Fee
2 |
1
Bushwick
38 Cooper Street
$2,665No Fee
2 |
1
Brownsville
469 East 93rd Street
$2,150No Fee
3 |
1
Stuyvesant Heights
561 Kosciusko Street
$2,700No Fee
3 |
1.5
East New York
777 Glenmore Avenue
$2,947No Fee
Studio |
1
Bushwick
252 Himrod Street
$2,950No Fee
2 |
1
Crown Heights
382 Montgomery Street
$2,800No Fee
2 |
1
Flatbush
1675 Nostrand Avenue
$2,495No Fee
2 |
1
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 StreetEasyArticle continues below
Astoria
25-13 27th Street
$2,500No Fee
Studio |
1
Maspeth
57-34 57 Drive
$3,000No Fee
3 |
1
Long Island City
37-11 9th Street
$2,600No Fee
2 |
1
Woodside
41-22 54th Street
$2,800No Fee
1 |
1
Astoria
34-46 Vernon Boulevard
$2,842No Fee
1 |
1
Rego Park
66-39 Burns Street
$2,200No Fee
2 |
1
Queens Village
111-32 209th Street
$2,400No Fee
1 |
1
Astoria
37-01 30th Avenue
$2,350No Fee
1 |
1
Hunters Point
22-44 Jackson Avenue
$2,933No Fee
Studio |
1
Kew Gardens
117-14 85th Avenue
$2,200No Fee
1 |
1
Astoria
32-11 23rd Street
$2,999No Fee
2 |
1
Ditmars-Steinway
21-22 29th Street
$2,350No Fee
1 |
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.
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.