420 East 78th Street, Manhattan, NY 10075

420 East 78th Street is a 4-story, 17-unit New Law Tenement building constructed in 1910, currently owned by 420 East 78th LLC in Manhattan's Upper East Side neighborhood. The building has experienced persistent rodent issues, with the most recent complaints in March 2025 resulting in violations from the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) and ongoing rat activity as of April 2025. Multiple rodent control measures have been implemented throughout 2025, including bait applications and compliance inspections, with some inspections noting rat activity.

The building has also faced various maintenance challenges, particularly in 2024, when multiple complaints were filed regarding plumbing issues, electrical problems, and unsanitary conditions, though the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) was often unable to gain access for inspections. A significant cluster of violations was recorded in February 2024, including water leaks, flooring issues, and pest problems. Historical records show previous maintenance concerns, including structural issues in 2018 regarding loose handrails and newel posts in the public hall stairs, as well as defects in the first-story ceiling.

Apartment 3C experienced multiple violations in 2018, including problems with the bathroom fixtures, plaster surfaces, and pest infestation. While bedbug reports have been filed regularly from 2019 to 2024, showing one instance of infestation (in 2019) with subsequent eradication, the building has maintained a zero infestation status in recent reports from 2021 to the present. Various permits for emergency work and plumbing repairs have been issued between 2018 and 2020, indicating ongoing maintenance activities, though the persistent rodent and plumbing issues suggest continued challenges with building upkeep.