Clifton

North shore neighborhood adjacent to Stapleton with a diverse immigrant community, affordable rents, and ferry proximity, making it one of the more accessible Staten Island communities for commuters.

Check a Clifton Address
RODENT COMPLAINTS · TYPICALHEAT COMPLAINTS · TYPICAL// median building 1931

Clifton Building Violation Profile

Measured from HPD violations and 311 complaints filed in the 12 months to September 2026, matched to this area's buildings. Use it to set expectations before you sign or hire.

RODENT COMPLAINTS
Typical

Rodent complaints ran 9.4 per 1,000 apartments, close to the citywide 8.8.

HEAT COMPLAINTS
Typical

Heat and hot water complaints in Clifton ran 125.9 per 1,000 apartments over that year, close to the citywide 125.7.

BUILDING AGE
1931

The median Clifton apartment building went up in 1931, 22.1% of apartments sit in buildings from before 1940 (citywide 45.8%), and 58.6% are in buildings of five floors or fewer (citywide 37.1%).

Most common HPD issues in Clifton

01Heat and hot water
02Unsanitary conditions and pests
03Plumbing
CONTEXT

HPD issued 36.6 violations per 100 apartments in Clifton over the 12 months to September 2026, above the citywide 30.1. Immediately hazardous Class C conditions ran 9.3 per 100 apartments against 9.2 citywide, and 45.1% of buildings recorded none.

FOR RENTERS

Area figures describe 213 buildings holding 3,298 apartments, so check the specific address before you sign: one building's record can sit far from its neighborhood's average.

Check Your Clifton AddressThese are neighborhood averages. Your specific building might differ. Check it.

What the Records Show in Clifton

Buildings in Clifton averaged 36.6 HPD violations per 100 apartments over the 12 months to September 2026, above the citywide 30.1. Immediately hazardous Class C conditions ran 9.3 per 100 apartments against 9.2 citywide, and 45.1% of buildings recorded none at all.

MeasureCliftonCitywide
Apartment buildings213172,071
Apartments3,2982,846,490
HPD violations per 100 apartments36.630.1
Class C (immediately hazardous) per 1009.39.2
Buildings with no violations45.1%45.3%
Apartments in pre-1940 buildings22.1%45.8%
Apartments in buildings of 5 floors or fewer58.6%37.1%
Median year built1931n/a

Figures cover buildings with three or more apartments in Tompkinsville-Stapleton-Clifton-Fox Hills, using HPD violations inspected in the 12 months to September 2026 and city lot records. Citywide figures use the same method. Search a specific address for that building’s own record.

Services in Clifton

Each service page is tailored to Clifton’s building stock and common violation patterns.

02

Pre-Lease & Investigation

Audit a Clifton building before you commit

Building Stock & Character

BUILDING TYPES

Two-family homes, small apartment buildings, some single-family homes

CHARACTER

Diverse immigrant community, affordable, north shore, ferry commuter location

// TRANSIT

Staten Island Railway (Clifton), S51/S76/S78 buses

CHALLENGES

Limited retail variety, some crime, older building stock

Clifton Renter FAQs

What building problems are most reported in Clifton?
Tenants in Clifton filed about 6,272 housing complaints to 311 in the 12 months to September 2026. Heat and hot water accounted for 30.1% of them, ahead of unsanitary conditions and pests at 19.3%. HPD issued 36.6 violations per 100 apartments in Clifton over the 12 months to September 2026, above the citywide 30.1. Immediately hazardous Class C conditions ran 9.3 per 100 apartments against 9.2 citywide, and 45.1% of buildings recorded none.
How common are rodent complaints in Clifton?
Rodent complaints ran 9.4 per 1,000 apartments, close to the citywide 8.8. Tenants in Clifton filed about 6,272 housing complaints to 311 in the 12 months to September 2026. Heat and hot water accounted for 30.1% of them, ahead of unsanitary conditions and pests at 19.3%.
What should renters check before signing a lease in Clifton?
Area figures describe 213 buildings holding 3,298 apartments, so check the specific address before you sign: one building's record can sit far from its neighborhood's average.
How old are the buildings in Clifton?
The median Clifton apartment building went up in 1931, 22.1% of apartments sit in buildings from before 1940 (citywide 45.8%), and 58.6% are in buildings of five floors or fewer (citywide 37.1%).
How common are heat complaints in Clifton?
Heat and hot water complaints in Clifton ran 125.9 per 1,000 apartments over that year, close to the citywide 125.7. Heat season runs October 1 to May 31, when an owner must keep apartments at 68F by day when it is below 55F outside, and 62F overnight.