East Harlem
Spanish Harlem -- El Barrio -- a historic Latino cultural hub with significant public housing and rapid change from gentrification.
East Harlem 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 ran 7.6 per 1,000 apartments, below the citywide 8.8.
Heat and hot water complaints in East Harlem ran 150.4 per 1,000 apartments over that year, above the citywide 125.7.
The median East Harlem apartment building went up in 1910, 31.5% of apartments sit in buildings from before 1940 (citywide 45.8%), and 19.9% are in buildings of five floors or fewer (citywide 37.1%).
Most common HPD issues in East Harlem
HPD issued 28.5 violations per 100 apartments in East Harlem over the 12 months to September 2026, close to the citywide 30.1. Immediately hazardous Class C conditions ran 9.2 per 100 apartments against 9.2 citywide, and 37% of buildings recorded none.
Area figures describe 1,983 buildings holding 59,407 apartments, so check the specific address before you sign: one building's record can sit far from its neighborhood's average.
What the Records Show in East Harlem
Buildings in East Harlem averaged 28.5 HPD violations per 100 apartments over the 12 months to September 2026, close to the citywide 30.1. Immediately hazardous Class C conditions ran 9.2 per 100 apartments against 9.2 citywide, and 37% of buildings recorded none at all.
| Measure | East Harlem | Citywide |
|---|---|---|
| Apartment buildings | 1,983 | 172,071 |
| Apartments | 59,407 | 2,846,490 |
| HPD violations per 100 apartments | 28.5 | 30.1 |
| Class C (immediately hazardous) per 100 | 9.2 | 9.2 |
| Buildings with no violations | 37% | 45.3% |
| Apartments in pre-1940 buildings | 31.5% | 45.8% |
| Apartments in buildings of 5 floors or fewer | 19.9% | 37.1% |
| Median year built | 1910 | n/a |
Figures cover buildings with three or more apartments in East Harlem (South), East Harlem (North), 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 East Harlem
Each service page is tailored to East Harlem’s building stock and common violation patterns.
Violation-Linked Repairs
For when East Harlem buildings already have open violations
Pre-Lease & Investigation
Audit a East Harlem building before you commit
Move-In Essentials
For after you’ve checked the building
Building Stock & Character
Public housing towers, pre-war tenements, new luxury developments
Latino cultural roots, murals, bodegas, community-oriented, rapidly changing
4/5/6 trains (Lexington Ave), 2/3 trains (Lenox)
High concentration of NYCHA housing, sharp gentrification, community displacement