281 West 118th Street, Manhattan, NY 10026

281 West 118th Street is a 5-story, 8-unit Old Law Tenement building built in 1910, currently owned by Matthew Rooney. The building has experienced persistent plumbing issues in recent months, with multiple complaints about toilets, bathtubs/showers, and water supply problems recorded between May 2025 and July 2025, including at least one open plumbing complaint as of July 2025. A series of inspections in April 2024 resulted in several Housing Maintenance Code violations for Apartment 5A, including problems with window leaks, broken plaster surfaces, and issues with roof repair; though most of these violations were subsequently closed. The building has struggled with unsanitary conditions, particularly related to mold, as evidenced by multiple complaints and violations in 2024-2025, including an emergency mold complaint in May 2025.

The property has a history of rodent issues, with multiple inspections showing rat activity between 2024 and 2025, though bait has been applied consistently as a mitigation measure. Significant past violations include a 2019 finding of unlawful construction work contrary to a stop work order, and issues with fire stopping removal observed in ground floor commercial spaces and Apartment 1A/B. Despite these challenges, the building has maintained compliance with bedbug prevention protocols, with no reported infestations in the past five years. Recent inspections (2023) show violations related to external low pressure inspection filings, though these were dismissed. The building has active permits related to plumbing and electrical work, with several related permits issued between 2019-2022.

The building's recent 311 service request history from May 2025 shows multiple complaints about plumbing issues, including toilets, bathtubs/showers, and water supply problems. Several of these complaints were investigated by HPD, with violations issued in at least one case (bathtub/shower). The property has also experienced repeated issues with unsanitary conditions, including mold and garbage/recycling storage problems, though inspectors found that some conditions did not violate HPD's housing laws. The building has had consistent rodent activity as demonstrated by multiple inspections and bait applications throughout 2024-2025, and several plumbing-related emergency complaints were recorded between May 2025 and July 2025. While most violations from past inspections have been closed, the property still faces ongoing maintenance challenges.