171 Hester Street, Manhattan, NY 10013

171 Hester Street is a 5-story, 24-unit Old Law Tenement building located in Chinatown, constructed in 1900 and currently owned by Yean Sin Chiu. The building has experienced several significant issues in recent years, most notably involving unauthorized alterations in Apartment 5F, for which multiple active violations were issued in September 2024 related to electrical, plumbing, and construction work, with penalties totaling $5,120. The building has also had recurring heat/hot water issues, with a recent complaint generated in January 2025 and resolved within two days.

Food safety concerns have been documented, including ongoing food poisoning claims (2025) and previous rodent/insect issues (2024) related to food establishments nearby. The property has shown a consistent record of bedbug reporting compliance, with no infestation cases reported in the past three years (2021-2024). Though there was a period of unauthorized bedbug report non-compliance in 2021, subsequent reports have demonstrated proper filing.

Rodent control measures appear effective, with multiple passed inspections between 2018 and 2024, despite one failure for "Other Reasons" in March 2018. The building has also faced periodic violations related to bedbug reporting requirements (2021-2023), though these were eventually resolved. Recent complaints include a currently unresolved food poisoning complaint (2025) and an illegal conversion complaint from 2024, which was inspected and resulted in an Oath violation being served. The property's maintenance history demonstrates some attention to regulatory compliance, though recent violations suggest ongoing challenges with unauthorized modifications and building systems maintenance.