346 East 18th Street, Manhattan, NY 10003

346 East 18th Street is a 6-story, 24-unit New Law tenement building in Gramercy, constructed in 1910 and currently owned by Steven Croman. The building has experienced recurring heat and hot water issues throughout 2025, with multiple complaints between March and April 2025 indicating both building-wide and apartment-specific problems. These complaints coincided with violations and maintenance issues in apartment 4D, including problems with hot water fixtures, and various housing maintenance code violations were documented, particularly in apartments 3B and 4D, involving water supply, plumbing, and maintenance issues. The building has also faced persistent rodent problems, with multiple rat sightings reported in 2025, and inspections showing rat activity throughout the latter half of 2023, despite bait application.

The building's history reveals several concerning patterns, including multiple illegal conversion complaints (most recently in 2024), and structural and safety concerns. In 2024, there were violations related to the building's heating system access and hot water problems, with associated violations for defective smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in apartment 4D. An open plumbing complaint from March 2025 indicates continuing maintenance issues. The property has active violations from 2021 regarding exterior facade maintenance, with documented issues including step cracks and spalling, though some historical violations related to building permits and unauthorized work have been resolved.

Despite these challenges, the building maintains a clean bedbug record, with no infestations reported in recent years. The building's management has faced scrutiny for its handling of maintenance issues, as evidence by multiple violations for failure to promptly correct hazardous conditions. Building permits issued between 2019 and 2021 show various maintenance and repair work being conducted, including plumbing and electrical upgrades. Recent rodent control efforts have been documented through multiple bait applications, though inspections continue to reveal rat activity. The combination of persistent plumbing, heating, and rodent issues, along with various building code violations, suggests ongoing maintenance challenges at 346 East 18th Street, with particular attention needed to address the cycling nature of heating and hot water complaints in 2025.