239 East 81st Street, Manhattan, NY 10028

239 East 81st Street is a 4-story, 18-unit old law tenement building constructed in 1920, currently owned by Jessica Ponce. The building has experienced recurring heating and hot water system issues throughout 2023, with eight separate complaints logged between October and December, affecting both individual apartments and the entire building. The most recent concern, reported in June 2025, involves a heavy water leak that remains open as of July 2025, marking a potentially serious maintenance issue.

The building's maintenance history shows a pattern of heating system problems, with multiple emergency complaints between September 2023 and January 2025, though many were resolved promptly or confirmed to have been addressed during HPD inspections. The property has undergone various inspections and maintenance requirements over the years, including three unaddressed "Work Without a Permit" complaints in early 2024, where inspectors were unable to gain access to the premises. A significant violation was recorded in December 2023 regarding a door self-closing device in the basement vestibule. In 2020, Apartment 1A was found to have multiple maintenance issues requiring attention, including problems with plaster surfaces, windows, cabinets, and ventilation.

The building's helmet control compliance has been documented consistently, with no reported bedbug infestations in the past five years, as evidenced by monthly rodent inspections showing passing results in recent years, though there were instances of rat activity noted between 2018-2019. The building's permit history shows regular maintenance and improvement work, with multiple permits issued between 2018 and 2020 for various repairs and improvements. Recent bedbug reporting has shown zero infested or eradicated units for the past three filing periods, indicating effective management of this particular pest issue. While overall rodent control has improved since 2019, with most inspections passing, the persistence of heating and water system complaints suggests ongoing infrastructure challenges that require monitoring.