3 East 131st Street, Manhattan, NY 10037

3 East 131st Street is a five-story, 9-unit old law tenement building constructed in 1900 in East Harlem, currently owned by Greg Cohen. The most significant recent issues occurred in early 2024, when the building experienced a complete lack of heat and hot water, leading to multiple Class C violations for inadequate heating and hot water supply from the Housing Maintenance Code, primarily affecting apartment 1A on the first floor. These violations were joined by safety concerns, including defective smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in apartment 1A, and several building security violations related to electromagnetic locking devices and inadequate entrance security.

A more recent concern emerged in May 2024, when a Department of Buildings inspection found issues with the boiler room, including exposed wiring and poor lighting conditions, resulting in a $625 penalty that remains active. The building's systems have undergone various inspections and reporting requirements in recent years, showing a generally proactive approach to maintenance and compliance. Notably, the building has maintained a clean record regarding bedbugs, with no reported infestations or eradications in the past seven reporting periods from 2019 to 2025.

Additionally, rodent inspections conducted between 2017 and 2025 have consistently passed, indicating effective pest management. The building's owners have also regularly filed bedbug reports, showing compliance with HPD requirements. While the recent heating and hot water issues and boiler room concerns are significant, the building's overall history suggests routine maintenance practices, with particular attention paid to pest control and bedbug reporting compliance.