149 East 81st Street, Manhattan, NY 10028

149 East 81st Street is a 5-story, 10-unit residential building located in Manhattan's Upper East Side and owned by Ron Cherney. Built in 1920, this old-law tenement has experienced recurring water-related issues in recent years, with three documented incidents including two slow leaks and one heavy flow leak between 2022 and 2023. The building has also faced concerns with mold, with an unsanitary condition complaint filed in August 2022, though HPD was unable to gain access for inspection.

In terms of safety violations, multiple issues were documented in August 2022 regarding self-closing doors at both the building entrance and vestibule, with violations of § 27-2005, 27-2007, and 27-2041.1 related to defective doors and a device preventing proper self-closing operation. The building's maintenance history shows regular compliance with bedbug reporting requirements, with no reported infestations or eradications between 2020 and 2025, despite multiple violation notices regarding bedbug report filing between 2021 and 2024. Rodent inspections conducted annually from 2010 through 2019 consistently passed.

The property has undergone several allowed improvements and maintenance work, with multiple emergency work permits issued between 2019 and 2021. Recent developments include two water leak complaints in October 2023, which were closed after HPD verification, marking the most recent maintenance issue on record. Although these water-related problems and door safety concerns suggest ongoing maintenance challenges, the building has maintained compliance with bedbug reporting and has consistently passed rodent inspections, indicating attention to pest control measures.