972 St Nicholas Avenue, Manhattan, NY 10032

The 12-unit, 5-story New Law Tenement at 972 St Nicholas Avenue in Washington Heights, owned by Jose Espinal and built in 1920, has experienced several significant maintenance issues in recent years. Most notably, there are ongoing rodent issues, with multiple inspections from December 2023 through January 2025 confirming rat activity, though bait was applied during several of these inspections. The building has also faced persistent heat and hot water problems, particularly in December 2023 when multiple emergency complaints were filed for both entire-building and apartment-specific issues, though HPD was unable to gain access for inspection in some cases.

Open violations from a November 2024 inspection specifically cite issues in Apartment B, including problems with interior doors, kitchen cabinets, mold, and evidence of mice infestation. The property has multiple active Department of Buildings violations for failure to file required External Low-Pressure Inspections for 2020-2021, dating back to June 2023. Recent maintenance history shows recurring issues with water leaks and various interior conditions, including multiple complaints in August 2024 regarding walls, doors, and pest issues (some of which received violations).

The building's heating system has been scrutinized through multiple complaints and inspections, with no violations issued during some inspections, though access issues hindered thorough evaluations. While official bedbug reports for 2023-2024 show no infestations, the building's ongoing pest management challenges, particularly with rodents, are documented through various rodent inspections and bait application records throughout 2024-2025. The property appears to be actively managed, with multiple complaints being addressed through HPD inspections, though many issues remain open or were only partially resolved, as evidenced by recurring complaints and violations across different inspection periods.