708 West 177th Street, Manhattan, NY 10033

The five-story, 44-unit New Law Tenement at 708 West 177th Street in Washington Heights, built in 1925 and currently owned by Carol Jaramillo, has experienced persistent maintenance challenges in recent years. Most notably, the building has faced recurring issues with heat and hot water systems throughout 2023-2024, with multiple HPD complaints indicating inadequate service and difficulties in conducting necessary inspections.

In 2025, significant safety and health concerns emerged, including reports of unsanitary conditions with pests and mold, along with electrical power outage and safety violations related to carbon monoxide and smoke detectors. The building's compliance with basic safety standards has been questioned, with several apartments (notably 2E, 4H, and 1H) cited for missing smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, though some of these violations were certified as corrected by late 2023. The property has also been subject to ongoing environmental and safety scrutiny, with active violations related to failure to maintain proper fire escape access and issues with the heating system's locked boiler room access.

Department of Buildings records reveal historical problems with the boiler system and unpermitted work, while multiple violations indicate non-compliance with energy benchmarking requirements between 2021-2023. Rat activity has been documented in 2024 and 2025 inspections, despite some earlier successful baiting efforts in late 2022, suggesting ongoing pest control challenges. While no bedbug infestations have been reported in recent monitoring periods, the building's overall maintenance record shows a pattern of recurring issues requiring ongoing tenant reports and governmental interventions.