240 East 85th Street, Manhattan, NY 10028

240 East 85th Street is a 4-story, 7-unit Old Law Tenement building located in Manhattan's Upper East Side, constructed in 1910 and currently owned by Scott Berman. The building has experienced recurring heat and hot water issues, with three separate complaints filed in late 2023 (November 30, December 1, and December 7), all classified as emergencies, though inspection access was not granted in some cases. Previous heat-related complaints can also be traced back to 2022 and 2021, indicating an ongoing maintenance challenge.

In July 2021, multiple complaints concerning unsanitary conditions and pests were documented, with violations issued particularly for roach infestation in apartment 4B. The building underwent several significant inspections in July 2021, revealing multiple Housing Maintenance Code violations including issues with fire safety materials, carbon monoxide detector requirements, smoke detector requirements, and public hall maintenance. More recently, the building has faced regulatory scrutiny regarding its occupancy and use, particularly concerning allegations of illegal occupancy as an adult physical culture establishment, with active violations related to this matter from July 2021.

Additionally, there is an active Department of Buildings violation from June 2023 concerning failure to file 2018 external low pressure inspection documentation. The property maintains a relatively good record of pest control, with no bedbug infestations reported in the past three years (as of December 2024), and recent rodent inspections (2022-2025) have generally passed, with the exception of a rat activity finding in December 2021. The building's maintenance history suggests ongoing challenges with basic services, particularly heating, while showing some improvements in pest control and compliance with recent inspection protocols.