444 West 52nd Street, Manhattan, NY 10019

444 West 52nd Street, a 5-story, 12-unit Old Law Tenement building constructed in 1940, has experienced several significant maintenance issues in recent years, particularly during 2024. Most notably, there were multiple heat and hot water complaints in December 2024, with at least two classified as emergencies, though Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) inspectors were unable to gain access to the affected units for verification.

The building has also faced various maintenance challenges, including pest infestations (both in 2024 and earlier), plumbing issues, and window problems. The 4th floor apartment (4W) appears to be the most affected unit, with multiple Housing Maintenance Code violations issued in 2024, including issues with window repairs, a missing smoke detector, and a defective carbon monoxide detector. The building's history includes a concerning pattern of enforcement actions related to illegal transient occupancy, particularly in 2018-2019 when there were multiple complaints and violations regarding illegal hotel room use, resulting in several Environmental Control Board violations.

These included inadequate fire safety systems and concerns about the rear yard retaining wall stability. While the building has generally maintained compliance with bedbug reporting requirements, with no infestations reported in recent years, there were some rodent issues noted in 2022, though more recent inspections in 2023 and 2024 passed successfully. The property has experienced recurring issues with access during inspections, as evidenced by multiple cases where inspectors were unable to gain entry to units for verification of reported problems.