239 East 18th Street, Manhattan, NY 10003

239 East 18th Street, a 4-story, 8-unit building constructed in 1920 and currently owned by William Cooper, has a documented history of recurring maintenance and pest control issues, with particularly concerning patterns in heat/hot water services and rodent activity. Most recently, in early 2025, the building experienced heat/hot water issues across the entire building, though inspectors were unable to gain access for proper evaluation. This marks the eighth documented heat/hot water complaint since 2020, with similar access issues preventing full inspection on multiple occasions.

The building has also faced significant challenges with rodent infestations, with multiple complaints between 2023 and 2024 showing consistent rat activity, though recent inspections in 2025 and 2024 have passed. The property has undergone various regulatory inspections and faced several violations requiring attention. Notable issues included defective self-closing doors throughout the building (notably in 2022), access problems to the heating system in 2021, and inadequate hot water and gas supply in Apartment 2A during 2021 inspections. The building has open violations related to the annual bedbug report filing requirement as of 2024 and 2023.

While the most recent rodent inspections in 2025 and 2024 have passed, earlier inspections showed persistent rat activity, with bait application required in 2023. The building's maintenance record shows a pattern of recurring issues, particularly with basic services like heat/hot water, though many complaints have been resolved or closed through various means, including building-wide restorations or inspections. The data, showing a pattern of recurrent maintenance issues, particularly with heating systems and pest control, indicates ongoing challenges with maintaining basic services and addressing infestations. The property has undergone various inspections and responses from multiple city agencies (HPD and DOHMH), though access issues have sometimes hindered thorough evaluations and resolutions.