445 West 49th Street, Manhattan, NY 10019

The 58-unit, 5-story Old Law Tenement building at 445 West 49th Street in Hell's Kitchen, owned by Richard Hochhauser and constructed in 1900, has experienced some notable maintenance challenges over the past several years. Between late 2018 and 2019, there was a cluster of maintenance issues involving Apartment 1B, including water leaks (heavy flow), flooring problems, and various paint/plaster concerns in both the ceiling and walls, as well as issues with an electric/gas range.

These resulted in multiple Housing Maintenance Code violations, all of which were certified as corrected by December 2018. The building experienced rodent-related complaints in 2019, with Health Department involvement, though subsequent rodent inspections from 2021 through 2025 have consistently passed, indicating improved conditions. More recent concerns include a building stability complaint filed in April 2024, which was inspected the same day with no violations found.

As of July 2025, there have been no reported issues with infestations of bedbugs or rodents, with all recent rodent inspections (most recent in May 2025) passing. The property has maintained regular inspections and reporting requirements, consistently demonstrating compliance with rodent control measures. While the building has a history of various maintenance issues, particularly in late 2018, there is evidence of improved conditions in recent years, with all identified violations being addressed and no recent complaints of similar nature recurring.