438 West 47th Street, Manhattan, NY 10036

The 5-story, 10-unit tenement building at 438 West 47th Street in Hell's Kitchen, owned by Ralph Westerhoff, has experienced recurring issues primarily related to electrical systems and heating/hot water services over the past several years. Between 2019 and 2025, there have been multiple complaints about heat and hot water issues affecting both individual apartments and the entire building, with the most recent incident in April 2023.

Electrical problems have been a persistent concern, with several reports of lighting issues between 2021 and 2023, including two complaints in August 2023 that were handled by HPD with no violations issued. The building currently has open violations as of September 2023 related to water leaks, fire retardant material, and paint conditions in the first-story public hall that require attention. The property has maintained good pest control standards, with no recorded bedbug infestations in the past five reporting periods from 2019-2025, and recent rodent inspections in 2024 and 2023 showing "Passed" results after previous concerns in 2018.

Building safety systems have been addressed through various permits issued between 2016 and 2020 for electrical and plumbing work, though there were complaints in 2019 and 2024 about work being done without proper permits. The building's management has generally responded to complaints and resolved many issues, though some incidents required multiple follow-ups before verification of resolution. The most recent bedbug report from June 2025 shows zero infestations or eradications, continuing the building's clean record in this regard.