229 East 53rd Street, Manhattan, NY 10022

229 East 53rd Street, a 5-story Old Law Tenement built in 1904 and containing 13 units, has experienced significant maintenance issues over the past two years, particularly regarding heating and hot water systems. Beginning in late 2024, there were multiple identical complaints about heat and hot water problems throughout the building, with complaints filed on December 22, 23, and 24, 2024, including both apartment-specific and building-wide concerns.

These complaints were initially marked as emergencies, though some were closed due to inspection access issues. Before these heating problems, the building experienced various maintenance issues, including a water leak in October 2024 that resulted in violations for Unit 4W, citing mold conditions and damage to plastered surfaces. The building's maintenance history reveals recurring systems problems, including plumbing issues, safety concerns regarding smoke detectors (2022), and various health department inspections related to food establishments.

Notably, there were significant safety concerns addressed in 2019-2020 regarding egress from the rear yard, with violations related to blocked exits and emergency lighting. The property has maintained an effective pest control record, as evidenced by consistent "passed" results on multiple rodent inspections from 2010 through 2025, and there have been no bedbug infestations reported in the past eight years, with the most recent reports (2024-2025) showing zero infested units. Recent building inspections, including rodent inspections conducted in January 2025, have shown compliance with health and safety requirements, though the recent heating system issues indicate ongoing infrastructure challenges.