21 West 86th Street, Manhattan, NY 10024

21 West 86th Street is a 15-story, 153-unit residential building located in Manhattan's Upper West Side, constructed in 1927 and currently owned by Aidin Ujka. The building has experienced recurring maintenance issues, particularly in recent months, with multiple complaints about unsanitary conditions, including mold (most recently in March 2025), and water leaks (with a slow leak complaint still open as of February 2025). Heating and hot water problems have also been documented, with emergency complaints in February and December 2024, though some were resolved soon after inspection.

The building underwent a significant façade restoration project between 2020-2021, during which several violations were noted, including issues with scaffolding, electrical systems, and structural elements, though these have since been resolved. The property has a documented history of bedbug infestations, with regular reporting showing occurrences in multiple units between 2019-2024, though all reported infestations were subsequently eradicated. Recent inspections in 2025 have shown the building to pass rodent control inspections, despite earlier complaints in 2020 indicating some rodent activity. The fourth-floor apartment (4J) has been the subject of multiple housing maintenance code violations as of 2024, including issues with water leaks, mold, and various maintenance problems, though many of these have been certified as corrected.

The building's management has maintained active communication with city agencies, responding to most service requests, though some recent complaints about mold and water issues remain unresolved. A series of violations related to exterior low pressure inspections from 2022-2023 were dismissed, suggesting good-faith compliance efforts. The property has generally passed regular safety inspections, including recent rodent inspections, though several maintenance issues have prompted tenant complaints through the 311 system. The most recent elevator and safety inspections were successfully completed, indicating proper functioning of critical building systems, though some historical violations related to these systems were noted in earlier years.