173 West 161st Street, Bronx, NY 10452

173 West 161st Street is a 4-story, 4-unit residential building located in Highbridge, constructed in 2003 and currently owned by Jacobs Sanchez. The property has experienced recurring heating system issues, with multiple complaints and violations between 2020 and 2024, including emergency heat/hot water complaints in 2024 that resulted in violations being issued. Most notably, in December 2024, inspections revealed multiple open violations in Apartment 3, including inadequate heat supply, rodent infestations (both mice and cockroaches), and several maintenance issues including leaky faucets, defective waste pipes, and problems with hydronic baseboard heaters.

The building's heating system has been a persistent concern, with 12 heat-related complaints filed through 2024, though the presence of maintenance violations was also noted in the kitchen and bathroom areas. The building has generally maintained compliance with bedbug reporting requirements, with no reported infestations or need for eradication in the past five reporting periods from 2019 to 2024. Rodent inspections have shown passing results for most of 2025, though a "Rat Activity" finding was recorded in September 2024.

Recent violations and complaints suggest ongoing maintenance challenges, particularly affecting the current status of Apartment 3, which has multiple open violations as of December 2024. The property has also experienced some indoor air quality concerns, with chemical vapor/odor complaints filed in both 2022 and 2023, though these were resolved with advisories to the property owner. Two complaints from 2025 regarding work without proper permits and after-hours work were investigated but found no violations at the time of inspection.