539 West 160th Street, Manhattan, NY 10032

539 West 160th Street is a 21-unit, five-story New Law Tenement building located in Washington Heights, built in 1910 and currently owned by Francisco Polanco. The property has experienced recurring water-related issues in recent months, with multiple complaints about water leaks between April and June 2025, including both slow and heavy flow leaks that resulted in violations. Additionally, there have been several plumbing concerns documented in 2025, particularly regarding radiator problems.

The building underwent a housing violation inspection in October 2023 that revealed multiple issues in apartment 1B, including pest infestations (both mice and roaches), mold presence, and various repair needs such as window balance issues, door problems, and painting requirements. While the building has maintained a consistent record of passing rodent inspections from 2014 through 2024, the frequency of recent water-related complaints suggests ongoing maintenance challenges. The property also had a roofing complaint recorded in May 2025, though HPD determined no violations were present upon inspection. The building's violation history shows some improvement, with several issues from 2023 being certified as corrected, including some mold and painting violations.

However, as of July 2025, there are still open violations from 2023 related to window repairs and door functionality. Notably, the building has maintained a pest-free status in its official bedbug reporting for several years, with no reported infestations since 2019. Various non-emergency maintenance issues were documented and closed in 2025, including concerns about paint/plaster conditions on walls, ceilings, and floors. The most recent complaints have primarily focused on water-related issues, which have become the most pressing maintenance concern.