21 West 137th Street, Manhattan, NY 10037

The six-story, 18-unit tenement building at 21 West 137th Street, owned by Malcolm Punter and constructed in 1920, has been experiencing persistent maintenance issues in recent years, particularly in 2025. Most notably, there is an ongoing rodent infestation problem, with multiple baiting treatments applied throughout 2025, as evidenced by eight consecutive bait application records from April to July 2025. The building has also faced several housing maintenance code violations, including an open Class C violation regarding rat infestation in the front yard (July 2024), and an open Class B violation related to a broken entrance door lock (October 2023).

Recent inspections in April 2025 revealed violations related to wall condition, though other complaints from that period regarding mold, flooring, cabinets, and window frame issues were found not to violate housing laws. The property has a documented history of pest and sanitation concerns, including a significant mold issue in 2020 (June). Between 2022 and 2024, the building experienced multiple bed bug reporting periods, with three infested units reported in the most recent filing (2024-2025) after showing no infestation in the previous two periods.

The building's maintenance record shows various other infrastructure and safety concerns, including reported problems with bathroom mold, flooring conditions, and appliances, though many of these complaints were either resolved or found not to violate housing codes. Current open violations as of 2025 should be monitored, especially given the building's history of recurring pest-related issues, though many recent complaints have been closed after inspections confirmed no code violations. The Department of Buildings had noted an active violation regarding failure to file the 2022 external low-pressure inspection as of April 2023, indicating ongoing compliance monitoring needs.