Harlem
Historic Black cultural capital experiencing renaissance and development.
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 15.7 per 1,000 apartments, above the citywide 8.8.
Heat and hot water complaints in Harlem ran 260.1 per 1,000 apartments over that year, above the citywide 125.7.
The median Harlem apartment building went up in 1910, 59.9% of apartments sit in buildings from before 1940 (citywide 45.8%), and 35.9% are in buildings of five floors or fewer (citywide 37.1%).
Most common HPD issues in Harlem
HPD issued 49.3 violations per 100 apartments in Harlem over the 12 months to September 2026, above the citywide 30.1. Immediately hazardous Class C conditions ran 17.1 per 100 apartments against 9.2 citywide, and 27.4% of buildings recorded none.
Area figures describe 2,946 buildings holding 60,268 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 Harlem
Buildings in Harlem averaged 49.3 HPD violations per 100 apartments over the 12 months to September 2026, above the citywide 30.1. Immediately hazardous Class C conditions ran 17.1 per 100 apartments against 9.2 citywide, and 27.4% of buildings recorded none at all.
| Measure | Harlem | Citywide |
|---|---|---|
| Apartment buildings | 2,946 | 172,071 |
| Apartments | 60,268 | 2,846,490 |
| HPD violations per 100 apartments | 49.3 | 30.1 |
| Class C (immediately hazardous) per 100 | 17.1 | 9.2 |
| Buildings with no violations | 27.4% | 45.3% |
| Apartments in pre-1940 buildings | 59.9% | 45.8% |
| Apartments in buildings of 5 floors or fewer | 35.9% | 37.1% |
| Median year built | 1910 | n/a |
Figures cover buildings with three or more apartments in Harlem (South), 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.
Building Grades in Harlem
2,956 apartment buildings in Harlem were scored on October 8, 2026. 43% graded D or F, above the citywide 19.8%, and 34.2% graded A against 65.8% citywide. The average score was 61 out of 100.
Lowest-Scoring Buildings in Harlem
| # | Building | Grade | Score | Open Class C | Open Class B | Open HPD cases | Flags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 63 Morningside Avenue10027 · 10 apartments · built 1914 | F | 0 | 113 | 318 | 0 | AEP |
| 2 | 102 West 137 Street10030 · 6 apartments · built 1910 | F | 0 | 51 | 196 | 1 | 9 heat complaints |
| 3 | 240 West 116 Street10026 · 12 apartments · built 1920 | F | 0 | 153 | 169 | 1 | AEPVacate order |
| 4 | 197 Lenox Avenue10026 · 10 apartments · built 1888 | F | 0 | 65 | 212 | 0 | AEP10 heat complaints |
| 5 | 110 West 137 Street10030 · 10 apartments · built 1910 | F | 0 | 70 | 154 | 2 | 8 heat complaints |
| 6 | 273 West 146 Street10039 · 10 apartments · built 1920 | F | 0 | 76 | 114 | 1 | 36 heat complaints |
| 7 | 135 West 131 Street10027 · 11 apartments · built 1888 | F | 0 | 54 | 168 | 1 | none |
| 8 | 2021 Adam C Powell Blvd10027 · 8 apartments · built 1910 | F | 0 | 66 | 33 | 1 | AEP10 heat complaints |
| 9 | 531 Lenox Avenue10037 · 10 apartments · built 1910 | F | 0 | 46 | 155 | 3 | none |
| 10 | 11 Mt Morris Park West10027 · 17 apartments · built 1889 | F | 0 | 118 | 109 | 3 | AEPVacate order |
Rent-Stabilized Apartments in Harlem
1,141 buildings here were billed the rent-stabilization fee for 25,754 apartments on the 2024 property tax bill. Among buildings billed in both years, the count fell 0.3% from 2018 to 2024. Check whether a specific building is on the list with the rent-stabilization checker.
| Building | Stabilized units 2018 | Stabilized units 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2802 Fredrick Douglass Bl10039 | 537 | 492 | -45 |
| 211 West 146 Street10039 | 87 | 59 | -28 |
| 53 West 129 Street10027 | 24 | 8 | -16 |
| 320 Manhattan Avenue10026 | 54 | 41 | -13 |
| 31 West 129 Street10027 | 18 | 5 | -13 |
Scores use the formula on the methodology page, applied to every lot with three or more apartments; the table ranks buildings with six or more. Stabilized unit counts are building totals from the DOF tax bill, compiled by nycdb, and say nothing about any individual apartment. See the most distressed buildings in the borough.
Services in Harlem
Each service page is tailored to Harlem’s building stock and common violation patterns.
Violation-Linked Repairs
For when Harlem buildings already have open violations
Pre-Lease & Investigation
Audit a Harlem building before you commit
Move-In Essentials
For after you’ve checked the building
Building Stock & Character
Brownstones, pre-war apartments, new developments, public housing
Rich cultural history, strong community, improving amenities
2/3 (Lenox), A/B/C/D (various), 4/5/6 (Lexington)
Rapid gentrification, varying block-by-block conditions