117 1st Avenue, Manhattan, NY 10003

The four-story, three-unit tenement building at 117 First Avenue in the East Village, owned by Ben Soleimani, has experienced recurring heat and hot water issues in 2024, with two documented incidents - one affecting the entire building in February and another affecting an individual apartment in June. Both incidents were addressed by the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) and were reportedly resolved, though tenants were advised to file new complaints if problems persisted.

The building has maintained a consistent record of successful bedbug reporting compliance from 2019 through 2024, with no reported infestations during this period. However, there were fire escape safety violations noted in 2018 concerning defective components and functionality, which were subsequently resolved. Recent rodent inspections present a mixed picture of vermin management in the building, with initial inspections in 2023 and 2025 showing passing results, but multiple bait applications recorded in mid-2024 indicating some ongoing rodent activity challenges.

Notably, a rat activity finding was documented in July 2024, following an earlier May 2024 inspection with similar results. While the building has experienced periodic maintenance issues, particularly regarding heat and hot water systems, most complaints have been addressed promptly according to HPD records. The most recent inspections show active management of pest control measures, though the frequency of bait applications suggests some ongoing challenges in this area.