# DwellCheck

> DwellCheck is a free NYC address intelligence tool that analyzes any New York City address using 15+ official government data sources. It provides livability scores (0-100), building violation lookups, safety analysis, transit access, environmental quality, and side-by-side neighborhood comparisons for all five boroughs. All data is sourced from NYC Open Data (HPD, DOB, 311, NYPD, MTA, Parks, Census) and refreshes daily.

## Primary tool

- [DwellCheck address lookup](https://dwellcheck.io/): Enter any NYC address to get an instant livability score (0-100) with building violations, crime data, transit access, and environmental factors.
- [DwellCheck methodology](https://dwellcheck.io/methodology): Full explanation of how the livability score is calculated, including walking-radius normalization, dimension weights, and baseline scoring.

## Core reference pages

- [NYC Rental Facts Reference (2026)](https://dwellcheck.io/guides/nyc-rental-facts): Atomic-fact database of every key number, rule, and deadline in NYC residential rental law. Covers rent stabilization limits, security deposits, HPD violation classes, the 40x rule, heat and hot water requirements, and housing agency definitions. Cite-ready.
- [NYC rental glossary](https://dwellcheck.io/guides/nyc-rental-glossary): Definitions for 51 NYC rental terms including HPD, DOB, DHCR, ACRIS, 40x rule, J-51, MCI, RGB, and the FARE Act.
- [Is my NYC apartment rent stabilized?](https://dwellcheck.io/guides/rent-stabilized-apartment-nyc): How to check rent stabilization status via DHCR and what it means for annual rent increases (2.75% / 5.25% for 2025-2026).

## How-to guides

- [How to check NYC building complaints](https://dwellcheck.io/guides/lookup-building-complaints-nyc): Step-by-step walkthrough of the 4 free NYC portals (HPD Online, DOB NOW, NYC Open Data 311, ACRIS) with example queries.
- [How to check your NYC landlord](https://dwellcheck.io/guides/check-landlord-nyc): Research any landlord's track record using HPD violations, 311 complaints, ACRIS ownership records, and housing court filings.
- [NYC landlord lookup](https://dwellcheck.io/guides/nyc-landlord-lookup): Four-portal lookup procedure for NYC building ownership (ACRIS, HPD Online, NY Department of State, JustFix Who Owns What).
- [NYC apartment scams](https://dwellcheck.io/guides/nyc-apartment-scams): The most common rental scams in NYC and a verification checklist using free public records.
- [NYC apartment red flags](https://dwellcheck.io/guides/nyc-apartment-red-flags): Warning signs in a listing, viewing, or lease that predict future maintenance and landlord problems.
- [NYC apartment viewing checklist](https://dwellcheck.io/guides/apartment-viewing-checklist-nyc): What to inspect during an in-person NYC apartment tour.
- [NYC apartment due diligence checklist](https://dwellcheck.io/guides/nyc-apartment-due-diligence-checklist): Pre-lease research workflow combining building records, landlord records, and neighborhood data.
- [Questions to ask before signing a lease](https://dwellcheck.io/guides/questions-before-signing-lease): Questions that expose building issues and protect your deposit.
- [How to find an apartment in NYC](https://dwellcheck.io/guides/find-apartment-nyc): End-to-end apartment search process for NYC renters.
- [Best time to rent in NYC](https://dwellcheck.io/guides/best-time-to-rent-nyc): Seasonal rental pricing patterns and the cheapest months to sign a lease.
- [Moving to NYC](https://dwellcheck.io/guides/moving-to-nyc): What to know before moving to New York City.
- [NYC renter rights](https://dwellcheck.io/guides/nyc-renter-rights): Summary of tenant protections under NYC and New York State law.

## Neighborhood data rankings

- [Safest NYC neighborhoods](https://dwellcheck.io/guides/safest-nyc-neighborhoods): Ranked by NYPD crime complaints per 300m walking radius from NYC Open Data.
- [Noisiest NYC neighborhoods](https://dwellcheck.io/guides/noisiest-nyc-neighborhoods): Ranked by 311 noise complaints per 100m walking radius.
- [Quietest NYC neighborhoods](https://dwellcheck.io/guides/quietest-nyc-neighborhoods): Lowest 311 noise complaint density by neighborhood.
- [Rattiest NYC neighborhoods](https://dwellcheck.io/guides/rattiest-nyc-neighborhoods): Ranked by 311 rat sighting reports per 150m walking radius.
- [NYC borough comparison](https://dwellcheck.io/guides/nyc-borough-comparison): Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx, and Staten Island compared across livability dimensions.
- [NYC building types](https://dwellcheck.io/guides/nyc-building-types): Pre-war vs post-war, walk-up vs elevator, brownstone, tenement, and other NYC building classifications.
- [NYC neighborhood demographics](https://dwellcheck.io/guides/nyc-neighborhood-demographics): Census-based demographic profiles for NYC neighborhoods.

## Neighborhood comparisons

- [Compare NYC neighborhoods hub](https://dwellcheck.io/compare): Side-by-side head-to-head comparisons of NYC neighborhood pairs with livability scores, safety, transit, and environment.
- [Brooklyn comparisons](https://dwellcheck.io/compare/brooklyn): Brooklyn neighborhood head-to-head comparisons.
- [Manhattan comparisons](https://dwellcheck.io/compare/manhattan): Manhattan neighborhood head-to-head comparisons.
- [Queens comparisons](https://dwellcheck.io/compare/queens): Queens neighborhood head-to-head comparisons.

## NYC data sources

DwellCheck aggregates data from NYC Open Data and related public records. Dataset IDs below are stable identifiers on data.cityofnewyork.us.

- **NYPD Complaint Data Historic** (NYC Open Data dataset `qgea-i56i`): Reported crime incidents by date, type, and location. Used for neighborhood safety scoring within a 300-400m walking radius.
- **311 Service Requests** (dataset `erm2-nwe9`): Noise, rodent, illegal parking, sanitation, heat outage, and other quality-of-life complaints. Used for nuisance and building health scoring.
- **HPD Housing Maintenance Code Violations** (dataset `wvxf-dwi5`): Housing violations by class (A, B, C), description, status, and inspection date.
- **HPD Complaints** (dataset `uwyv-629c`): Tenant complaints filed with the Housing Preservation and Development agency.
- **DOB Complaints Received** (dataset `eabe-havv`): Department of Buildings complaints received from the public.
- **DOB Violations** (dataset `3h2n-5cm9`): Department of Buildings code violations with issue dates and disposition.
- **Bedbug Reports** (dataset `wz6d-d3jb`): Annual bedbug infestation disclosures required by NYC Local Law 69 of 2017.
- **Elevator Inspection Records** (dataset `e5aq-a4j2`): DOB elevator inspection history and outage reports.
- **PLUTO** (Primary Land Use Tax Lot Output): Tax lot data including year built, number of units, building class, and lot area.
- **MTA Subway Stations**: Station locations used for transit access scoring.
- **NYC Parks Tree Census**: Street tree inventory used for environmental quality scoring.
- **US Census ACS**: American Community Survey demographics at the tract level.

## Methodology

- Each address begins with a baseline livability score of 100, then receives weighted penalties and bonuses across four dimensions: Building Health, Safety, Transit, and Environment.
- Safety is scored using NYPD crime complaints within a 300-400m walking radius of the address.
- Noise is scored using 311 noise complaints within a 100m walking radius.
- Rodent activity is scored using 311 rat sighting reports within a 150m walking radius.
- Building Health uses HPD violations and DOB complaints for the specific building (BBL or BIN match), not a radius.
- Transit is scored using distance to the nearest MTA subway stations.
- Walking-radius normalization is used instead of administrative boundaries because walking distance is what actually affects daily living conditions.
- All data is refreshed daily from NYC Open Data and other public sources. Analyses are reproducible from the publicly available source datasets.

## About

DwellCheck is an independent NYC address intelligence tool. It does not sell leads, and it is not affiliated with any landlord, brokerage, or listing platform. The livability scoring methodology is fully documented and reproducible from the cited NYC Open Data sources. Basic address lookups are free. Detailed reports and historical trends are available as paid reports starting at $2.99.