47 West 129th Street, Manhattan, NY 10027

The 25-unit, 6-story converted New Law tenement building at 47 West 129th Street in Harlem, owned by Shaun Covington and built in 1910, has experienced persistent heat and hot water issues over the past several years. Most notably, there have been three heat/hot water emergencies in 2024 alone (February and December), and similar complaints have been recurring since 2021, often affecting the entire building. These complaints have sometimes resulted in violations being issued by the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD).

The building has also faced various maintenance challenges, including a spate of violations found in December 2024 in apartment 5B involving defective carbon monoxide and smoke detectors, pest issues (roach infestation), and bathroom repairs needed for the toilet connection. Earlier violations from 2024 in apartment 2A indicated problems with mold and window guards that required attention. The property has undergone several rodent inspections since 2019, with most recent inspections in 2024 and 2025 showing compliance, though there were failures noted in mid-2023.

Bedbug reports have been consistently filed showing zero infested units since 2019, except for a single incident involving three units in 2019 which were reportedly eradicated. While some issues appear to have been resolved based on violation certifications, the recurring nature of heat and hot water problems suggests ongoing challenges with building systems. The building's safety systems have required attention, as evidenced by the December 2024 violations regarding carbon monoxide and smoke detectors in apartment 5B, though these were certified as corrected in January 2025.