518 West 146th Street, Manhattan, NY 10031

The 6-story, 24-unit New Law Tenement building at 518 West 146th Street in Hamilton Heights, owned by Michael Padernacht, has experienced persistent maintenance issues throughout its recent history, particularly regarding heating and sanitation. Most notably, in January 2025, there were multiple complaints and violations related to heating/hot water, plumbing issues, and unsanitary conditions, including pests, which required HPD inspection and found violations that the owner was required to address.

The building has also had recurring heating problems, with several heat/hot water complaints filed in 2023-2025, some marked as emergencies. Multiple units have documented violations, including Apartment 3B (2024) with issues involving carbon monoxide detector, smoke detector, and kitchen sink drain pipe problems; Apartment 2C (2024) with window glass and door issues; and Apartment 6C (2024) regarding bathroom ceiling plaster and various other maintenance needs. The property has faced ongoing pest management challenges, with multiple unsanitary condition complaints related to pests in 2024 and 2025, though some of these inspections found no violations.

Recent inspections have consistently shown rat activity, with multiple compliance inspections in 2025 confirming this issue. Additional maintenance concerns have been recorded, including a water leak incident (2025), ventilation system problems (2025), and various other plumbing and maintenance issues over the years. The building has maintained a record of being bedbug-free since 2019, with regular reporting showing zero infested units.