96 East 7th Street, Manhattan, NY 10009

The 5-story, 8-unit Old Law Tenement building at 96 East 7th Street, owned by Ralph Davis, has been in operation since 1881 and is currently facing several maintenance challenges as of July 2025. Most notably, there is an open lighting issue reported to HPD in December 2024 that remains unresolved. The building has experienced recurring water and ceiling issues, with multiple violations documented in 2022 relating to water leaks and ceiling damage in the 4th-floor apartment, and similar problems affecting the 5th-floor apartment were reported in 2018.

A concerning environmental control board violation from March 2023 indicates improper maintenance of window A/C units on the 2nd and 5th floors, though this appears to be the most recent active violation. The property has shown some inconsistency in maintenance response, with multiple rodent inspections showing variable results between 2022 and 2025, including recent rat activity in February 2025. However, there have been no bedbug infestations reported in the past seven years, with regular filings showing zero infested or re-infested units.

The building's heating and hot water systems were problematic in February 2020, though these issues were promptly addressed. Multiple violations from 2018 required the owner to make various repairs, including addressing roof leaks, ceiling damage, and door self-closing mechanisms, all of which were eventually resolved. The building's most recent bedbug and rodent reportings suggest a period of relative stability in terms of pest management, though the ongoing lighting issue and historical pattern of water-related problems suggest ongoing maintenance challenges.