520 West 123rd Street, Manhattan, NY 10027

The five-story, 10-unit tenement building at 520 West 123rd Street, built in 1901 and currently owned by Brian Garland, has experienced numerous maintenance and safety issues over the past two years, with ongoing concerns as of mid-2025. Most notably, there is an open, emergency lighting complaint from May 2025 regarding no lighting issues that remains unresolved. The building has faced recurrent problems with ceilings requiring maintenance, including multiple paint and plaster complaints in 2024 and 2025, several of which resulted in Housing Maintenance Code violations specifically noting defective plastered surfaces and paint issues in Apartment 2W. Water-related problems have been prevalent, with complaints about leaks and water supply issues, including a notable water leak violation in the 2W kitchen area from July 2024.

Recent inspections have revealed concerning patterns of infrastructure maintenance challenges, including multiple instances of rat activity documented between 2023 and 2025, and a significant number of heating and hot water complaints. The building's heating system appears to have required emergency attention in December 2024, with both apartment-specific and building-wide complaints regarding heat/hot water issues. Various apartment-specific maintenance issues have been documented through Housing Maintenance Code violations, including problems in Apartments 2W, 2E, and 4E, covering areas such as ceiling surfaces, window repairs, and gas supply to kitchen fixtures. A recent Environmental Control Board violation from November 2024 noted issues with the water leak on the hot water storage tank, while another from September 2023 documented facade maintenance concerns with peeling paint.

The building has undergone multiple inspections regarding illegal conversions and hotel room usage between 2023 and 2024, though most resulted in inspectors being unable to gain access. While there have been no reported bedbug infestations since 2019, these inspections continue to indicate ongoing maintenance and potential legal compliance challenges. The property's maintenance history suggests ongoing infrastructure issues, particularly with basic building systems such as lighting, heat, and water supply. The building's age and status as an old law tenement (Class: OLD LAW TENEMENT) appear to contribute to persistent maintenance challenges, with multiple instances of required repairs to common areas and individual units being documented through various inspection and complaint systems.