165 East 104th Street, Manhattan, NY 10029

The 5-story, 12-unit tenement building at 165 East 104th Street in East Harlem, built in 1910 and currently owned by David Gillcrist, has experienced several significant maintenance and compliance issues over the past years. Most notably, there have been persistent rodent activity problems, with the most recent inspections in 2025 showing ongoing rat activity despite multiple bait applications and inspections. The building has also faced recurring water-related issues, with the most recent complaint about a slow water leak in September 2024, though no violations were found during the inspection. Multiple attempts to inspect for certificate of occupancy compliance between 2024-2025 were met with access denial, raising concerns about potential illegal modifications or occupancy issues.

The building's systems have required attention to fire safety, with violations noted in 2020 regarding the fire escape system that were subsequently resolved. Between 2020-2022, there were also various complaints and violations related to unsanitary conditions, including garbage storage issues and periodic pest control matters, particularly affecting the 5A apartment. While the building has maintained regular bedbug reporting requirements from 2021-2024 showing zero infested units, the current rodent situation and access denial for multiple inspections suggest ongoing maintenance and compliance challenges that continue to require monitoring. The property has a history of various infrastructure and maintenance issues, including heating system complaints in 2021 (which were reportedly resolved during inspection), multiple water-related problems, and appliance issues.

Between 2020-2022, several housing maintenance code violations were recorded and subsequently closed, including problems with garbage storage and pest infestations. The building has shown some progress in recent years, with the most recent bedbug reports showing no infestation cases, though the persistent rodent activity remains a significant concern. There have also been some environmental control board violations related to building maintenance, though these appear to have been resolved. The property has had multiple permits issued between 2018-2021 for various repairs and maintenance work, suggesting ongoing efforts to address building issues as they arise.