138 East 98th Street, Manhattan, NY 10029

138 East 98th Street is a 5-story, 13-unit old-law tenement building located in East Harlem, constructed in 1910 and currently owned by Sandra Carmona. The building has experienced persistent maintenance challenges over the past several years, with the most pressing current issues being multiple open plumbing complaints filed in January 2025, affecting bathtubs/showers, toilets, and sinks.

The property has a documented history of heat and hot water problems, with emergency complaints registered in early 2025 and previous incidents in 2024, though inspection access was often not granted. Notable violations include ongoing pest control challenges, particularly in Apartment 1, which has open violations for roach and mice infestations, as well as issues with self-closing doors. The building's mechanical systems have faced scrutiny, with a serious boiler violation issued in February 2022 related to safety equipment and maintenance, resulting in a $3,125 penalty that remains outstanding.

Recent rodent activity has been documented through multiple inspections in 2025, showing consistent pest management efforts with bait applications. While the building's bedbug reporting shows no infestations during the 2021-2022 reporting period, this only covers one of the two required annual reports. The property has also been cited for failure to file mandatory inspections, including an external low-pressure inspection that kicked off various violations in 2023.