553 West 152nd Street, Manhattan, NY 10031

The 7-unit, 3-story building at 553 West 152nd Street in Hamilton Heights, owned by Joseph Kali, has experienced recurring maintenance issues over the past two years, with particular concerns around sanitation and pest control. Most recently, there are open complaints from June 2025 regarding unsanitary conditions and pests, following a pattern of similar complaints throughout 2024 and 2025, including multiple mold-related issues.

The building has documented violations of the Housing Maintenance Code, particularly affecting Apartment 2, including problems with plastered surfaces, doors, pest infestations, and flooring. Significant infrastructure concerns were noted in August 2022 regarding the boiler system, with multiple active violations including improper installation of water heaters and other hazardous conditions, though these were apparently addressed given the lack of recent heating complaints.

The property has undergone regular rodent inspections, with varied results between 2023 and 2025, showing periods of rat activity and some compliance passes. While the building has maintained a bedbug-free record in recent years, as evidenced by consistent reports showing zero infested units from 2020 through 2025, the persistent issues with mold, pests, and sanitation raise ongoing habitability concerns. The Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) has initiated multiple inspections and issued violations, particularly in late 2024 when multiple problems were documented including pest infestations, plumbing issues, and wall conditions, with some violations remaining unresolved as of 2025.