554 East 149th Street, Bronx, NY 10455

The 5-story, 19-unit residential building at 554 East 149th Street in the Mott Haven neighborhood, owned by David Strauss and constructed in 1915, has experienced recurring issues with heat and hot water throughout 2025. Between January and March 2025, multiple emergency heat/hot water complaints were filed with HPD, with inspectors often unable to gain access for verification (3 out of 6 complaints). The building has also faced various maintenance challenges, including a water leak (heavy flow) complaint in December 2024, and issues with flooring, stairs, and wall conditions during the same period.

Notably, an October 2024 inspection of Apartment 16 revealed multiple violations requiring correction, including defective carbon monoxide detectors, smoke detectors, and self-closing doors. The building has a documented history of boiler-related issues, with complaints and violations from 2021 and 2022 indicating problems with the heating system. Multiple HVAC-related violations remain active, including ones from September 2022 regarding boiler room access and compliance, with associated penalties totaling over $9,000.

More broadly, the property has experienced recurring rodent activity, with inspections showing rat activity in 2023 and previous years, though recent bedbug reports from 2024 indicate no infestations. The building has undergone various inspections and compliance checks under Local Law 188/17, with some inspections unable to gain access to the premises. Recent inspections show active ECB violations related to boiler room access and other maintenance issues, though there have been no reported issues with bedbugs in the past three years, and most housing maintenance code violations have been closed following proper certification.