678 East 138th Street, Bronx, NY 10454

The five-story, 16-unit New Law Tenement building at 678 East 138th Street in Mott Haven, owned by Andrew Kleiman and constructed in 1915, has experienced recurring heat and hot water issues throughout 2024, with eight documented complaints between January and December, three of which occurred in December 2024 alone. The building also faced plumbing challenges in June 2025, with at least one emergency complaint still open as of June 2025.

In 2023, significant violations were recorded in apartment 5B, including problems with floor tiles, various flooring defects, and safety concerns related to fire escape locks and an intercom system, all of which were subsequently addressed and certified as corrected. The building's maintenance history shows attention to safety inspections, with three compliance inspections performed between September and December 2021, all resulting in compliance, and regular bedbug reporting showing no infestations from 2019 through December 2024. The property has a documented history of various maintenance issues, including a 2022 pest complaint and multiple water-related problems in 2021, including a slow leak and mold issues.

Notably, apartment 1A had documented violations in January 2024 related to rodent infestations, and while the building passed a rodent inspection in May 2023, earlier inspections in 2010 and 2011 had a mix of pass and fail results. Despite these challenges, the building has maintained an active response system, with most complaints being closed promptly, though recent heating and plumbing issues suggest ongoing infrastructure concerns. The most recent bedbug reports from 2023-2024 indicate no infestations during the reporting periods, demonstrating effective pest control management.