625 West 138th Street, Manhattan, NY 10031

The five-story, 20-unit New Law Tenement at 625 West 138th Street in Hamilton Heights, owned by Andrew Dai, has experienced persistent heating system issues over the past three years, with multiple complaints regarding lack of heat and hot water affecting either the entire building or individual apartments. The most recent service requests in 2025 indicate continuing problems, with HPD unable to gain access for inspections in both April and previously in January 2025, though earlier complaints in October 2023 were resolved with confirmed restoration of services.

The building has also faced several violations and maintenance challenges, including open violations from 2023-2024 regarding failure to file annual bedbug reports, and various issues in Apartment 1D identified in September 2022, including problems with doors, plumbing fixtures, windows, mold, and lead-based paint hazards. A significant violation was recorded in 2024 concerning occupancy issues, with penalties imposed for four persons residing in Apartment 3B and two in Apartment 4B contrary to a partial vacate order, and a subsequent violation for failing to certify corrections on an immediately hazardous violation. The property has maintained regular rodent inspections, with all recent inspections from 2022 onwards passing, except for a failed inspection in February 2020.

The Department of Buildings records show various historical complaints, including concerns about illegal commercial use and electrical wiring issues, though these were resolved with no violations found during inspections in 2020 and 2021 respectively. A water leak complaint from October 2022 indicates infrastructure maintenance concerns, while numerous heat and hot water complaints suggest ongoing HVAC system challenges. The building's environmental control board violation from 2024 regarding occupancy issues remains active, representing the most significant current enforcement action against the property.