236 West 149th Street, Manhattan, NY 10039

The 236 West 149th Street building in Harlem, a 6-story New Law Tenement constructed in 1910, has experienced persistent heat and hot water issues in recent years. Most notably, in May 2024, multiple HPD complaints were filed regarding inadequate heat and hot water throughout the entire building, leading to violations including locked boiler room access and hot water issues specifically in Apartment 2B. The building has a documented history of similar heat-related problems, with emergency complaints filed in March 2022 and December 2022, though some of these were reportedly resolved.

In addition to these recurring heating issues, there are ongoing concerns with Apartment 6C as of April 2024, including water leak problems and defective plaster surfaces, for which violations were issued but remain open. The building owner, Malcolm Punter, has maintained monthly bedbug reporting records since 2019, showing generally good control of this issue with only two documented infestations (in 2019) out of over five years of reporting. Rodent inspections have shown mixed results, with inspections in June 2024 and June 2023 reporting rat activity, though subsequent inspections passed.

The property also has several open Housing Maintenance Code violations from 2022-2024, primarily related to building maintenance issues such as damaged fire retardant materials in public areas and painting requirements in the 5th and 6th story public areas. More recently, a Department of Buildings violation was issued in September 2024 regarding failure to file the 2023 external low-pressure inspection. The building's maintenance history shows a pattern of issues requiring attention, particularly concerning heating systems and some maintenance matters, though many recent complaints have been addressed through inspections and violations.