237 East 5th Street, Manhattan, NY 10003

The 6-story, 17-unit tenement building at 237 East 5th Street in the East Village, owned by George Lavian and built in 1909, has experienced several significant maintenance and safety issues in recent years. Most notably, there has been a persistent rodent problem, with multiple rat sightings and inspections throughout 2024 and 2025, including recent bait applications in July 2025. The building has also faced recurring heat and hot water issues, particularly in January 2025, with multiple emergency complaints filed, though access issues hindered full inspections.

These problems were preceded by similar heating issues in December 2024 and various tenant complaints throughout 2023-2024. Other maintenance concerns have included electrical outages (March 2024), water leaks (both heavy flow and slow leaks), mold issues, and unsanitary conditions related to garbage storage reported between 2023 and 2024. The building has several open violations from 2024, including water damage and plaster issues in apartment 1B, though many previous violations have been addressed. Security and safety concerns have been documented, including historical violations regarding self-closing doors and fire escape access, though most were resolved by 2023.

The property manager has demonstrated some responsiveness to issues, with multiple agencies involved in inspections and corrections. Recent rodent inspections in 2025 have shown continued rat activity despite bait application efforts. The building's history shows consistent attention to bedbug prevention, with zero reported infestations in all recent annual filings (2021-2024). A potentially concerning outstanding environmental violation from 2022 relates to a cracked concrete doorway lintel, with a penalty of $12,500 still showing as due.