134 West 20th Street, Manhattan, NY 10011

This 5-story, old-law tenement building located in Chelsea contains 16 units and was built in 1901. The property, currently owned by Betty Morreto, has experienced recurring heat and hot water issues throughout 2024-2025, with multiple emergency complaints filed and subsequently closed after verification of condition corrections by the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD). These heating system problems included incidents in March, June 2024, and several complaints in 2025. The building has also faced various water-related issues, including plumbing problems and a water leak in early 2024, with the most recent incident involving a heat/hot water complaint in March 2025.

The property shows significant maintenance challenges in apartment 1E, as evidenced by multiple open violations from a May 2024 inspection, including issues with plastered surfaces, paint quality, door locks, window mechanisms, and missing safety devices (smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector). This apartment also had documented pest problems earlier in 2024, with violations related to roach and mouse infestations. While a complaint about illegal plumbing work was filed in 2022, no violation was found upon inspection. The building's rodent inspection history is mostly positive, with the last inspection in October 2024 resulting in a "Passed" status, though there was one "Rat Activity" report in April 2022.

The property has maintained a clean bedbug record for several years, with no reported infestations between 2019-2025. The building's maintenance record shows a pattern of recurring heating system issues, particularly in 2024-2025, suggesting possible systemic problems with the building's infrastructure. The presence of multiple open violations in apartment 1E regarding maintenance and safety equipment, along with past pest control issues, indicates ongoing challenges with habitability standards in this specific unit. However, the building's good standing in recent rodent inspections and the absence of bedbug infestations in recent years suggest some areas of proper maintenance and pest control.