773 Melrose Avenue, Bronx, NY 10451

773 Melrose Avenue, a 4-story, 8-unit New Law tenement built in 1918 and currently owned by Jacquin Ortiz, is experiencing persistent and significant maintenance challenges. Most notably, the building has faced recurring heat and hot water issues throughout 2025, with multiple emergency complaints filed in June 2025 alone, including six building-wide heat/hot water complaints, some of which were confirmed through HPD inspections.

These heating issues appear to be an ongoing problem, with similar complaints dating back several months, including violations issued in April 2025 and multiple complaints continuing into June 2025. The building's infrastructure maintenance also requires attention, with recent violations and complaints regarding door and window conditions in January 2025, and plumbing issues documented in May 2025 affecting water supply, toilets, and sinks. A December 2024 inspection revealed several open violations affecting apartments 2 and 7, including inadequate heat and hot water supply, defective smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and issues with self-closing doors.

Additionally, the property has active violations related to boiler inspection reporting, dating back to 2019 and 2023, though these are administrative matters separate from the building's current habitability concerns. The building has maintained a bedbug-free record since 2019, with no reported infestations in recent years, though there have been documented rodent activity issues in September 2023 and multiple inspections throughout 2022-2025 showing rat activity and the use of bait. The consistent pattern of heating system failures and other maintenance issues suggests challenges with building systems and infrastructure upkeep, while the property has demonstrated compliance with bedbug reporting requirements and pest control measures, though recent inspections indicate ongoing rodent issues.