140 West 133rd Street, Manhattan, NY 10030

The 8-unit, 4-story New Law Tenement at 140 West 133rd Street in Harlem, built in 1910 and currently owned by Abj Sierra LLC, has experienced several concerning maintenance issues in recent months. Between January and April 2025, there were multiple attempts by the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) to investigate complaints regarding heat/hot water issues, unsanitary conditions, plumbing problems, and appliance malfunctions, though inspectors were frequently unable to gain access to complete their evaluations. Notable open issues as of April 2025 include problems with the electric/gas range and refrigerator, while previous complaints about heat/hot water, plumbing, and unsanitary conditions were ultimately closed without proper inspection confirmation.

The building has also faced some structural and safety concerns, with violations noted in late 2024 regarding building entrance locks, self-closing doors, and janitorial service requirements, though these have since been certified as corrected. Looking at the building's recent history, there have been recurring rodent and pest issues, with the most recent rodent activity documented in June 2025 following multiple inspections showing rat presence between 2024-2025. The building has had issues with both hot water and heating systems, particularly during the January 2025 period when multiple complaints were filed and access for inspection was repeatedly denied.

While the building's bedbug infestation rates appear relatively low based on the last four annual reports from 2020-2024, there are ongoing concerns about general maintenance and building systems reliability. Additionally, there are active violations on record regarding failure to file certain external inspections since 2019 and 2024 related to the building's boiler system, though previous violations concerning entrance door functionality and safety requirements have been addressed according to records. The property has maintained regular compliance inspections, though with varying results, and while there have been some violations noted regarding the building's carbon monoxide detectors and pest control requirements in the past, these have typically been addressed through compliance certification processes. The combination of ongoing maintenance access issues, recurring system problems, and pest control challenges suggests that while some historical violations have been corrected, new and persistent issues continue to affect the building's habitability and systems reliability.