Building Risk Rankings
Manhattan Building Risk Rankings
Manhattan is NYC's densest borough — roughly 1.6 million residents in 850,000 housing units, the majority in buildings that predate 1960. The market here is dominated by pre-war co-ops, rent-stabilized walk-ups, and post-war high-rises, with newer luxury construction concentrated downtown and along the High Line. Common compliance flags trend toward heat and hot water complaints in older walk-ups, lead paint disclosure on units built before 1978, plumbing-riser violations in century-old buildings, and rent-stabilization registration gaps. The list below ranks the Manhattan buildings in our index by current open HPD violations — each links to a free preview audit covering DOB, HPD, ACRIS sales history, and FEMA flood zone.
Buildings ranked
944
Visible risk signals
150,004
Median signal count
128
Highest-signal building
838
100 Manhattan buildings worth a closer look
Rankings start with visible maintenance-risk signals. Open any address to review the full audit: violations, permits, filings, fines, flood exposure, and neighborhood context.
Frequently asked about Manhattan buildings
Which Manhattan neighborhoods have the most open HPD violations?
Per HPD's open-violation registry, Washington Heights, Inwood, East Harlem, and the Lower East Side carry the highest per-building violation counts in Manhattan. These are predominantly rent-regulated walk-up neighborhoods where deferred maintenance is common. Newer luxury construction in Midtown, Hudson Yards, and the Financial District typically shows far fewer open violations.
Are pre-war Manhattan buildings more likely to have violations?
Yes — buildings constructed before 1947 are statistically more likely to have open HPD violations, especially for heat, hot water, plumbing, and lead paint. This is partly age and partly the regulatory stack: rent-stabilized pre-war buildings face limited rent income against rising repair costs, which can lead to deferred maintenance. A high violation count alone isn't disqualifying — it does mean you should read the full audit before signing.
How do I check if a Manhattan apartment is rent-stabilized?
Run the address through our property audit — the report cross-references DHCR registration data and shows whether the building is registered for rent stabilization. You can also request a rent history directly from DHCR (Division of Housing and Community Renewal) for any apartment you're considering. Rent stabilization confers important tenant protections including limited rent increases and renewal rights.
What's the average open-violation count for Manhattan walk-ups vs. high-rises?
Manhattan walk-ups (4-6 story, pre-war) average meaningfully higher per-unit open-violation counts than post-1970 high-rises. The exact gap varies by neighborhood, but high-rises generally have professional building management and reserve funds that drive faster violation resolution. Walk-ups in landlord-managed portfolios sometimes accumulate hundreds of open violations across a single BBL.
Should I worry about lead paint in a pre-war Manhattan apartment?
Yes — any unit built before 1978 in a building with a child under 6 is subject to NYC's Local Law 1 lead-paint requirements. Landlords must remediate. Our report flags buildings with open HPD lead-paint violations. If you're moving in with young children, request the landlord's most recent lead inspection records as part of the lease process.