153 East 18th Street, Manhattan, NY 10003

The 6-story, 24-unit residential building at 153 East 18th Street in Gramercy, built in 1902, has experienced several significant maintenance issues in recent years. The most pressing concerns have involved heating systems, with two heat/hot water complaints documented in 2021 and 2022, one of which was classified as an emergency affecting the entire building.

In late 2020, multiple complaints were filed regarding various building-wide issues including water leaks, unsanitary conditions (mold and pests), and problems with paint/plaster on walls and ceilings. These issues led to several Housing Maintenance Code violations, particularly affecting Apartment 22 on the top floor, which experienced multiple problems including water stains, defective fire safety equipment, and deteriorated paint conditions. More recent concerns have emerged regarding unauthorized construction work, with complaints in late 2024 about work being conducted without proper permits, though these complaints were ultimately closed with the stop work order being fully rescinded.

The building has also maintained a good rodent control record, with all inspections from 2010 to 2025 passing successfully, and no bedbug infestations have been reported in the past five years according to the Bedbug Reporting system. While some previous issues resulted in Environmental Control Board violations and fines, specifically regarding sidewalk safety concerns in 2022, there have been no active violations on record since November 2020. The building's owners have obtained several work permits over the past few years, though there have been periods of concern regarding the maintenance of safety equipment and infrastructure, particularly during construction projects.