537 West 149th Street, Manhattan, NY 10031

The seven-story, 35-unit Old Law Tenement building at 537 West 149th Street, owned by Eric Roachford, has experienced recurring maintenance issues and violations over the past several years. Most recently, in 2024-2025, the building has faced multiple infrastructure challenges, including documented rodent activity with failed inspections in December 2024 and January 2025, and building maintenance violations related to exterior facade deterioration, with spalling masonry problems documented in inspections from 2023-2024. A significant heat and hot water outage affected the entire building in January 2024, prompting multiple tenant complaints, though the issue was reportedly resolved.

The building has also experienced persistence bedbug issues, with infestations reported in 2024-2025, though some units were successfully treated and eradicated. The property has received various Housing Maintenance Code violations, particularly in Apartment 75, related to ceiling light fixtures, plaster surfaces, and roof leaks documented in 2023. Several Emergency Violations were issued in August 2023 regarding electrical issues, door/window problems, and unsanitary conditions including mold and inadequate lighting.

The building's exterior maintenance has drawn multiple violations from the Dept of Buildings, particularly regarding facade maintenance, with active penalties issued in late 2024 for failure to maintain the exterior facade. There have been recurring issues with building egress and fire safety, including violations for obstructed exit passageways and concerns about roof access and fire escape maintenance. Recent inspections in 2025 have shown some improvement, with the most recent rodent inspection passing, though significant structural and maintenance issues remain active, as evidenced by the multiple open violations and penalties.