Do Rats Get Into Apartments in NYC?

Yes. 311tracker's database shows 147,878 indoor pest complaints filed with HPD since January 2024 — that's just the reported cases. The Bronx accounts for 33% of all indoor pest complaints citywide; Brooklyn follows at roughly 29%. Rats enter through basement gaps, utility pipe penetrations, and unsealed ground-floor openings in older buildings.

• A building's DOHMH rodent inspection record is the most reliable indicator — 311tracker shows every pass/fail result per address going back years
• "Failed for Rat Activity" means city inspectors found active burrows or evidence of infestation during that visit
• Indoor rat sightings in apartments should be filed as a 311 complaint under "Unsanitary Condition" — this triggers an HPD inspection and creates a public record
• Check any building's full rodent inspection history before signing a lease at 311tracker.com

Read the full analysis in our NYC rat complaint investigation.