16 East 98th Street, Manhattan, NY 10029

The 10-story New Law Tenement building at 16 East 98th Street in East Harlem, owned by Michael Heyward, has experienced several significant maintenance issues in recent years. Most notably, there have been recurring problems with heat and hot water across the entire building, with emergency complaints submitted in both November 2023 and January 2024. These complaints were closed without inspection, as housing inspectors were unable to gain access to the apartments.

The building has also faced multiple rodent-related challenges, particularly in 2023, with several inspections indicating rat activity between March and June 2023. While subsequent inspections from late 2023 through 2025 have passed without violation, there was one failed inspection in November 2023 for "Other Reasons" under rodent control requirements. Additionally, an ECB violation was issued in January 2024 for failure to maintain the exterior building facade, specifically citing unsecured plant boxes and broken glass, resulting in a $2,500 penalty. The building's compliance history shows a mix of active and resolved complaints related to Local Law 188/17 inspections throughout 2023 and 2024, though most inspections resulted in "No Enforcement Action Required" finding.

Notably, the property has maintained a clean record for bedbug infestations in recent years, with no infested or re-infested units reported since 2019. Multiple building permits have been issued between 2019 and 2022 for various work, including plumbing and electrical maintenance, suggesting regular maintenance activity. The most recent rodent inspections conducted in 2024 and 2025 have consistently passed, indicating improved conditions in this regard. While the building has faced multiple maintenance challenges, particularly regarding heat/hot water and rodent control, recent inspections suggest some improvement in building conditions, with most recent complaints being adequately addressed through normal inspection processes.