Howard Beach
Waterfront Queens neighborhood adjacent to JFK Airport, with a strong Italian-American community and Jamaica Bay access.
Howard Beach 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 5.9 per 1,000 apartments, below the citywide 8.8.
Heat and hot water complaints in Howard Beach ran 90.5 per 1,000 apartments over that year, below the citywide 125.7.
The median Howard Beach apartment building went up in 1970, 1.1% of apartments sit in buildings from before 1940 (citywide 45.8%), and 51.5% are in buildings of five floors or fewer (citywide 37.1%).
Most common HPD issues in Howard Beach
HPD issued 11.8 violations per 100 apartments in Howard Beach over the 12 months to September 2026, below the citywide 30.1. Immediately hazardous Class C conditions ran 2.6 per 100 apartments against 9.2 citywide, and 52.9% of buildings recorded none.
Area figures describe 259 buildings holding 4,377 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 Howard Beach
Buildings in Howard Beach averaged 11.8 HPD violations per 100 apartments over the 12 months to September 2026, below the citywide 30.1. Immediately hazardous Class C conditions ran 2.6 per 100 apartments against 9.2 citywide, and 52.9% of buildings recorded none at all.
| Measure | Howard Beach | Citywide |
|---|---|---|
| Apartment buildings | 259 | 172,071 |
| Apartments | 4,377 | 2,846,490 |
| HPD violations per 100 apartments | 11.8 | 30.1 |
| Class C (immediately hazardous) per 100 | 2.6 | 9.2 |
| Buildings with no violations | 52.9% | 45.3% |
| Apartments in pre-1940 buildings | 1.1% | 45.8% |
| Apartments in buildings of 5 floors or fewer | 51.5% | 37.1% |
| Median year built | 1970 | n/a |
Figures cover buildings with three or more apartments in Howard Beach-Lindenwood, 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 Howard Beach
259 apartment buildings in Howard Beach were scored on October 8, 2026. 12% graded D or F, below the citywide 19.8%, and 79.2% graded A against 65.8% citywide. The average score was 89.2 out of 100.
Lowest-Scoring Buildings in Howard Beach
| # | Building | Grade | Score | Open Class C | Open Class B | Open HPD cases | Flags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 149-02 85 Street11414 · 11 apartments · built 1969 | F | 0 | 9 | 35 | 0 | none |
| 2 | 149-30 88 Street11414 · 150 apartments · built 1963 | F | 0 | 16 | 53 | 0 | 7 heat complaints |
| 3 | 86-10 151 Avenue11414 · 161 apartments · built 1966 | F | 0 | 23 | 32 | 0 | none |
| 4 | 150 Cross Bay Boulevard11414 · 131 apartments · built 1957 | F | 0 | 9 | 17 | 0 | none |
| 5 | 84-10 153 Avenue11414 · 172 apartments · built 1964 | F | 0 | 8 | 23 | 0 | 294 heat complaints |
| 6 | 84-05 Shore Parkway11414 · 84 apartments · built 1959 | F | 0 | 6 | 4 | 1 | none |
| 7 | 89-35 155 Avenue11414 · 150 apartments · built 1962 | F | 0 | 3 | 28 | 0 | 6 heat complaints |
| 8 | 151-20 88 Street11414 · 149 apartments · built 1963 | F | 17 | 6 | 16 | 0 | 6 heat complaints |
| 9 | 85-09 151 Avenue11414 · 150 apartments · built 1964 | F | 31 | 4 | 1 | 0 | none |
| 10 | 88-08 151 Avenue11414 · 149 apartments · built 1962 | F | 32 | 7 | 9 | 0 | none |
Rent-Stabilized Apartments in Howard Beach
7 buildings here were billed the rent-stabilization fee for 55 apartments on the 2024 property tax bill. Among buildings billed in both years, the count fell 16.1% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 84-10 153 Avenue11414 | 15 | 9 | -6 |
| 84-40 153 Avenue11414 | 16 | 11 | -5 |
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 Howard Beach
Each service page is tailored to Howard Beach’s building stock and common violation patterns.
Violation-Linked Repairs
For when Howard Beach buildings already have open violations
Pre-Lease & Investigation
Audit a Howard Beach building before you commit
Move-In Essentials
For after you’ve checked the building
Building Stock & Character
Single-family homes, semi-detached houses, waterfront properties
Italian-American community, waterfront, quiet, suburban, JFK access
A train (Howard Beach-JFK Airport), Q11/Q41 buses
Airplane noise from JFK flight paths, flood zone risk, car often necessary