This year, West Harlem experienced its highest rate of rat sightings in ten years. This is part of a citywide trend — rat sightings across New York City reached record levels following the pandemic, and most sightings are occurring in residential spaces.
David Hanzal, president of the Manhattanville Tenant Association, has noticed a sharp increase in rodent sightings both in his community and in his own residence.
"I've lived here for almost 20 years and I've never seen it like this, ever. It's horrendous." — David Hanzal, Columbia Daily Spectator, October 2022
Before the pandemic, David's building maintained a public sign-up sheet for residents to post rodent complaints, for which the landlord would hire an exterminator. During COVID-19, exterminators stopped coming — even as tenants continued filling the sheet with complaints.
"I think that those buildings — the ones that are the bargaining chips for more money, so to speak — are the lowest-hanging fruit for these landowners." — David Hanzal
Because rent-controlled buildings are not priced at market rate, tenants can theoretically hold their leases for life — if they keep paying rent. But if they leave, landlords can re-price the units dramatically. David believes this creates a direct financial incentive for landlords to ignore maintenance complaints: the worse conditions get, the more likely long-term, lower-paying tenants are to give up and leave.
Rats are far more than frightening inconveniences. Rodents are a primary vehicle for serious disease transmission, including leptospirosis — a bacterial disease found with increasing frequency in New York City in recent years. They also carry E. coli, salmonella, and other pathogens.
"In our housing meetings, we have people come and they're talking about major health issues, especially if you've got children in the house that are on the ground and there's rodent feces around. It's just a breeding ground for disease." — David Hanzal
David connected the rodent crisis to a broader pattern of neglect — not just by landlords, but by city government itself.
"That whole area [West Harlem] has been just quite ignored. Not only with the landlords, but you got to look at the city." — David Hanzal
New York City introduced a new trash pickup schedule under Mayor Eric Adams — moving trash outside placement from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., in an effort to keep streets cleaner during daytime hours. But David questioned its effectiveness, noting that trash would still sit on the curb throughout the night — prime feeding time for nocturnal rodent populations.
"It's a problem that I think any urban city can have, but I don't know if the resources or funds are being put to that, putting it as a priority. Because it's not seen as much of a health issue — but it is a health issue." — David Hanzal