304 East 12th Street, Manhattan, NY 10003

The 89-unit, 5-story old law tenement at 304 East 12th Street, built in 1940 and currently owned by Honghui Lee, has experienced several recurring maintenance issues over the past two years. Most notably, there has been an ongoing problem with building-wide heat and hot water outages in late 2024, and a refrigerator-related issue that remains open as of March 2025.

The building has also faced multiple electrical challenges, including power outages and lighting issues in September 2024, and elevator maintenance concerns. In April 2024, the property was cited for various safety violations in the basement area, including problematic gas meter placement, ventilation issues, and concerns regarding the laundry room's sprinkler system—these violations incurred penalties ranging from $625 to $1,250. The property has undergone several inspections and has generally maintained compliance with rodent control, passing all inspections since 2019.

Recent building violations from 2024 included concerns about fire escape access, self-closing doors, and various maintenance issues in apartment 5F, all of which have since been closed. The building's management has demonstrated prompt attention to pest control matters, with no reported bedbug infestations in recent years. While the elevator service issues remain a concern, as evidenced by a current active complaint from June 2025, the property has shown improvement in maintaining basic habitability standards, with most recent complaints being resolved through proper channels.