Neighborhood Risk Rankings · Manhattan / Washington Heights
Washington Heights.
338 buildings ranked by open violation count. Browse the rankings, then audit any address to see what a listing won't tell you.
Highest count
725.
Worst single building in Washington Heights.
Buildings ranked
338
From NYC PLUTO seed
Visible risk signals
41,593
DOB + HPD combined
Median signal count
95
Per building, mid-pack
Highest-signal building
725
Worst single BBL
Washington Heights occupies upper Manhattan from 155th to Dyckman, with a housing stock dominated by 6- to 8-story pre-war elevator apartment buildings and Art Deco walk-ups along Broadway, Fort Washington, and Cabrini Boulevard. Roughly 70% of the housing stock predates 1947, making it one of NYC's deepest rent-stabilized markets — and one of its highest open-violation neighborhoods on a per-building basis. The compliance pattern is classic upper-Manhattan: heat and hot-water flags in winter, plumbing risers in century-old buildings, and lead-paint violations in pre-1978 stock. The list below ranks Washington Heights buildings by current open HPD violations.
Ranked by open violations
100 Washington Heights 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.
Washington Heights FAQ
Frequently asked about Washington Heights buildings.
Why does Washington Heights have so many open violations?
Three structural factors: (1) the housing stock — most buildings predate 1947 and face aging systems with limited reserve funding; (2) high rent-regulated supply, where rent caps constrain owner repair budgets; (3) high tenant density per building, which raises complaint origins. The result is genuinely higher counts per BBL than midtown Manhattan, not a measurement artifact. The class breakdown matters more than the headline number.
Are Washington Heights pre-war elevator buildings well-maintained?
It varies dramatically by ownership. Some pre-war elevator buildings on Fort Washington and Cabrini are professionally managed with active capital reserves and low open-violation counts. Others, mostly landlord-owned rent-stabilized stock, carry hundreds of open violations per BBL. The audit shows the specific building's open count and class breakdown — don't infer from the block.
Which Washington Heights ZIP has the most violations?
ZIP 10033 (central Washington Heights, around 181st and the A train) tends to carry the highest per-building open-violation counts in our index, followed by 10032 (Audubon Avenue and below). 10040 (north of Dyckman toward Inwood) trends lower thanks to a mix of newer construction and lower density.
Is Washington Heights rent-stabilized?
A large majority of pre-1974 Washington Heights apartment stock is rent-stabilized through standard 6+ unit rules. Several 421-a and J-51 buildings carry stabilization for the abatement term. The audit's DHCR check shows the building's specific status. Many Washington Heights tenants don't realize they're stabilized — important to verify before signing a lease renewal.
Should I worry about lead paint in a Washington Heights apartment?
Yes — most Washington Heights buildings predate 1978 and are subject to NYC Local Law 1 lead-paint remediation when a child under 6 is in the unit. Several Washington Heights landlords carry significant open class-C lead-paint violations in our index. If you're moving in with young children, request the most recent lead inspection records as part of the lease process.
Compare nearby
Other Manhattan neighborhoods.
Up one level
Manhattan borough overview
See every Manhattan building in our index, ranked together — useful when the listing you're auditing crosses neighborhood lines.
View Manhattan rankings →Got an address?
Audit a Washington Heights property.
Free preview on every NYC address. Full audit $9.99 — no subscription required.