471 Convent Avenue, Manhattan, NY 10031

471 Convent Avenue is a three-story, three-unit old law tenement building located in Hamilton Heights, built in 1910 and currently owned by David Copeland. The building has experienced recurring maintenance issues over the past few years, with the most recent July 2024 complaints focusing on electrical wiring safety, toilet plumbing problems, and mailbox concerns, resulting in open violations requiring repairs and resolution. Notably, the property faced significant challenges in January 2022, including heat and hot water failures affecting the entire building, electrical issues, and a documented power outage, with several violations issued during inspections.

Two serious incidents in 2021-2022 raised concerns about illegal occupancy and faulty electrical work, resulting in a Vacate Order and multiple violations including unsafe electrical equipment and unauthorized modifications, with associated penalties totaling over $18,000. The building's maintenance history shows frequent plumbing and electrical problems, with multiple emergency service requests related to toilets, lighting, and wiring between 2024-2025. Despite improvements, rat activity has been a persistent issue, with multiple inspections showing either active infestation or evidence of rodent activity between 2021-2025, though recent inspections in June 2025 and December 2024 passed. The property has several open violations requiring attention, including issues with the building's mailbox system, electrical wiring conditions, and a prior bedbug reporting violation from 2024.

Recent Department of Buildings inspections have documented various safety and maintenance concerns, including encumbrances in public areas and problems with building systems requiring prompt attention. Based on the available data, the building has faced ongoing maintenance challenges, particularly in electrical systems, plumbing infrastructure, and pest control, with some historical violations related to unauthorized modifications and occupancy patterns. While the property has undergone some improvements and passed recent inspections, several open violations and recurring issues suggest continued attention to building systems is necessary. The current ownership has been responsive to most complaints, with many issues being resolved upon inspection, though some violations remain outstanding as of the latest available data.