15 East 109th Street, Manhattan, NY 10029

The 6-story, 24-unit New Law Tenement at 15 East 109th Street in East Harlem, owned by Walter Roberts, has experienced several notable issues in recent years, particularly regarding heat and safety systems. Most recently, in June 2025, there was a heat/hot water complaint that HPD could not inspect due to access issues. From January to April 2025, there were multiple heat/hot water complaints affecting the entire building, though some were resolved through inspections.

The building has also faced recurring issues with building systems and safety features, including multiple complaints about the bell/buzzer/intercom system (2025), door/window problems (2025), and a broken/missing window guard (April 2025). During 2024-2025, there were significant violations including fire damage in apartment 2D, sooty conditions in the 2nd-story public hall, and a defective skylight in the 6th-story public hall. Apartment 1D was noted for multiple safety concerns in early 2024, including issues with smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors, while other units had various maintenance needs like door repairs and electrical work.

The building's rodent inspections from 2023-2025 show consistent rat activity, with multiple inspections resulting in either failed compliance or the need for bait application, though a June 2025 inspection showed compliance. The property has maintained a clean bedbug record from 2020-2024, with no reported infestations. Multiple permits for various construction and maintenance work have been issued between 2019-2020, indicating ongoing maintenance efforts.