144 East 112th Street, Manhattan, NY 10029

The 4-story, 6-unit tenement building at 144 East 112th Street, owned by Rafael Sassouni, has experienced several significant maintenance and health issues in recent years. Most notably, there has been persistent rat activity throughout 2024 and 2025, with multiple inspections confirming the presence of rodents, though a passed inspection in December 2023 and bait application in November 2023 suggest some mitigation efforts were attempted. The building has also faced recurring water and air quality issues, including heavy water leaks and sewage odors, with the most recent water-related complaints filed in January 2025.

There were incidents of heat and hot water problems reported in early 2022, though these appeared to be resolved promptly according to HPD records. The property has a concerning history of ventilation and exhaust system complaints, with multiple reports in 2021 and 2022 regarding illegal or improper installations, particularly related to a ground-floor deli's kitchen exhaust system. This specific issue resulted in a $500 penalty in early 2022 for failure to maintain the building in a code-compliant manner.

The building's maintenance record shows some attempts at compliance, including annual bedbug reporting demonstrating no infestations since 2019, though the property received a violation in March 2023 for not filing the report on time. While there have been multiple service requests and complaints over the years, many were closed promptly, suggesting some level of responsiveness to tenant concerns. However, the persistence of rat activity and recurring maintenance issues indicates ongoing challenges with building upkeep.