17 West 137th Street, Manhattan, NY 10037

The 6-story, 18-unit building at 17 West 137th Street in Harlem, owned by Malcolm Punter, has experienced persistent maintenance issues in recent years, particularly in 2024-2025. Most notably, there has been an ongoing rodent problem, with multiple bait applications recorded throughout 2025 and inspections revealing rat activity as recently as February 2025. The building has also faced recurring heat and hot water issues, with emergency complaints filed and violations noted in both 2024 and 2025.

The property has experienced multiple building system failures, including elevator issues (August 2024) and multiple door-related problems, with violations identified for defective self-closing doors at building entrances and vestibules (October 2024). Apartment 3B has been a particular focus of violations, with open Class A and B violations as of October 2024 related to a defective toilet, interior damage, and pest infestation. The building's maintenance history shows a mix of urgent and non-urgent complaints being addressed, with several recent violations requiring correction under housing maintenance codes.

While there have been inspections that found no violations for certain complaints (including window issues and plumbing problems in 2024), the pattern of repeated service requests suggests ongoing maintenance challenges. The property has undergone both rodent remediation efforts and pest control inspections, with records showing systematic bait application throughout 2025. Interestingly, while there was a bedbug infestation reported in 2022, subsequent filings from 2023-2024 show no further infestations or eradication efforts, suggesting successful resolution of that particular issue. The building's construction dates back to 1920, and despite being classified as "HERETOFORE CONVERTED CLASS A," it continues to face typical urban maintenance challenges that have resulted in regular interactions with city agencies regarding building conditions and services.