Washington Heights
Northern Manhattan neighborhood with pre-war charm and diverse community.
Washington Heights 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 8.2 per 1,000 apartments, close to the citywide 8.8.
Heat and hot water complaints in Washington Heights ran 299.2 per 1,000 apartments over that year, above the citywide 125.7.
The median Washington Heights apartment building went up in 1917, 82.4% of apartments sit in buildings from before 1940 (citywide 45.8%), and 33.5% are in buildings of five floors or fewer (citywide 37.1%).
Most common HPD issues in Washington Heights
HPD issued 54 violations per 100 apartments in Washington Heights over the 12 months to September 2026, above the citywide 30.1. Immediately hazardous Class C conditions ran 18.1 per 100 apartments against 9.2 citywide, and 21.9% of buildings recorded none.
Area figures describe 1,540 buildings holding 58,205 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 Washington Heights
Buildings in Washington Heights averaged 54 HPD violations per 100 apartments over the 12 months to September 2026, above the citywide 30.1. Immediately hazardous Class C conditions ran 18.1 per 100 apartments against 9.2 citywide, and 21.9% of buildings recorded none at all.
| Measure | Washington Heights | Citywide |
|---|---|---|
| Apartment buildings | 1,540 | 172,071 |
| Apartments | 58,205 | 2,846,490 |
| HPD violations per 100 apartments | 54 | 30.1 |
| Class C (immediately hazardous) per 100 | 18.1 | 9.2 |
| Buildings with no violations | 21.9% | 45.3% |
| Apartments in pre-1940 buildings | 82.4% | 45.8% |
| Apartments in buildings of 5 floors or fewer | 33.5% | 37.1% |
| Median year built | 1917 | n/a |
Figures cover buildings with three or more apartments in Washington Heights (South), Washington Heights (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 Washington Heights
1,540 apartment buildings in Washington Heights were scored on October 8, 2026. 71.8% graded D or F, above the citywide 19.8%, and 12.7% graded A against 65.8% citywide. The average score was 37.1 out of 100.
Lowest-Scoring Buildings in Washington Heights
| # | Building | Grade | Score | Open Class C | Open Class B | Open HPD cases | Flags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 438 West 164 Street10032 · 20 apartments · built 1920 | F | 0 | 137 | 492 | 0 | AEP69 heat complaints |
| 2 | 538 West 159 Street10032 · 10 apartments · built 1913 | F | 0 | 67 | 221 | 1 | 30 heat complaints |
| 3 | 531 West 162 Street10032 · 9 apartments · built 1920 | F | 0 | 74 | 144 | 3 | AEP |
| 4 | 609 West 180 Street10033 · 20 apartments · built 1910 | F | 0 | 204 | 179 | 3 | AEP21 heat complaints |
| 5 | 605 West 182 Street10033 · 21 apartments · built 1914 | F | 0 | 152 | 184 | 4 | AEP31 heat complaints |
| 6 | 503 West 158 Street10032 · 10 apartments · built 1896 | F | 0 | 57 | 86 | 1 | 69 heat complaints |
| 7 | 1471 St Nicholas Avenue10033 · 18 apartments · built 1910 | F | 0 | 82 | 163 | 1 | 36 heat complaints |
| 8 | 606 West 191 Street10040 · 20 apartments · built 1912 | F | 0 | 96 | 103 | 0 | AEP12 heat complaints |
| 9 | 140 Nagle Avenue10040 · 46 apartments · built 1925 | F | 0 | 194 | 250 | 0 | AEP8 heat complaints |
| 10 | 504 West 157 Street10032 · 8 apartments · built 1910 | F | 0 | 34 | 33 | 1 | AEP |
Rent-Stabilized Apartments in Washington Heights
1,194 buildings here were billed the rent-stabilization fee for 38,019 apartments on the 2024 property tax bill. Among buildings billed in both years, the count fell 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 111 Wadsworth Avenue10033 | 480 | 442 | -38 |
| 1360 St Nicholas Avenue10033 | 480 | 446 | -34 |
| 56 Ft Washington Avenue10032 | 28 | 7 | -21 |
| 273 Wadsworth Avenue10033 | 20 | 2 | -18 |
| 652 West 189 Street10040 | 97 | 82 | -15 |
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 Washington Heights
Each service page is tailored to Washington Heights’s building stock and common violation patterns.
Violation-Linked Repairs
For when Washington Heights buildings already have open violations
Pre-Lease & Investigation
Audit a Washington Heights building before you commit
Move-In Essentials
For after you’ve checked the building
Building Stock & Character
Pre-war apartments, some walk-ups, affordable for Manhattan
Dominican culture, Fort Tryon Park, community-oriented, more affordable
1 train (Broadway), A train (Fort Washington)
Far from Midtown, some steep hills, fewer dining options