521 West 151st Street, Manhattan, NY 10031

The five-story tenement building at 521 West 151st Street in Hamilton Heights, owned by Roxanne Canty, has a significant recent history of maintenance issues, particularly concerning building-wide heating and hot water systems. In early 2025 alone, there were four separate complaints about heat and hot water problems affecting the entire building, with emergency status assigned to three of these complaints.

More recently, in April 2025, an unsanitary condition related to garbage/recycling storage was reported, though this was addressed and closed within a week. The building also underwent numerous inspections and received multiple violations in 2024, including issues with public area maintenance such as flooring and appliance conditions, though no violations were issued for these specific complaints. The property has a concerning pattern of rodent-related issues, with several inspections indicating rat activity between 2021 and 2023, though more recent inspections in 2024 and 2025 have passed.

There are currently multiple open violations from 2024 requiring attention, including three separate paint-related violations in public areas and Unit 52, as well as a flooring issue in a fourth-story public hall. The Department of Buildings has an active violation as of April 2023 regarding the failure to file the 2022 external low-pressure inspection. While some building maintenance issues have been addressed through the complaint system, the frequency and variety of recent complaints, particularly regarding heating systems and general maintenance, suggest ongoing challenges with property upkeep and resident comfort.