551 West 149th Street, Manhattan, NY 10031

The five-story, 22-unit New Law Tenement building at 551 West 149th Street in Hamilton Heights, owned by Brian Dulitz, has experienced several recurring maintenance issues between 2023 and 2025, with the most significant being ongoing rodent activity. As of spring 2025, there have been multiple complaints and confirmed rat activity inspections, including three service requests in April 2025 alone. The building has also faced persistent heat and hot water problems, particularly evident in early 2025 when multiple emergency complaints were filed through the Housing Preservation Department (HPD).

These issues, combined with documented violations for water leaks, unsanitary garbage conditions, and maintenance concerns regarding building systems, suggest ongoing challenges with property upkeep. The building's recent history shows a pattern of maintenance difficulties, particularly in 2024-2025, with multiple emergency complaints regarding heat and hot water systems, and several violations related to garbage management and plumbing systems. There are also active violations from June 2023 regarding external low-pressure inspections that remain unresolved as of now.

Historically, the building has documented rat activity through various inspections between 2023 and 2025, with the most recent inspections in early 2025 showing similar results. While there have been some improvements, as evidenced by the resolution of various complaints, the recurrence of certain issues suggests challenges with consistent property maintenance. The building has maintained a "zero" record for bedbug infestations in recent reporting periods from 2019 through 2024, and has demonstrated compliance in several areas, though violations and complaints indicate ongoing maintenance needs.