723 East 181st Street, Bronx, NY 10457

The three-story, four-unit residential building at 723 East 181st Street in Belmont, owned by Rafael Karo, has been experiencing recurring maintenance issues since its construction in 2015. Most concerning are the recent complaints from October 2024, all of which received emergency categorization, including issues with plumbing (water supply and toilet), mold, ventilation systems, flooring, and wall damage. These complaints were particularly notable as HPD was unable to conduct inspections despite the emergency nature of the complaints.

Earlier in 2023, similar access issues were documented regarding plumbing matters, including concerns about water leaks and radiator problems. The building has also been subject to significant regulatory scrutiny, with current violations regarding the illegal conversion of a basement space into an unauthorized Class-A apartment, which allegedly includes a full bathroom and formerly contained a gas store. This situation has resulted in an active Environmental Control Board violation with a penalty of $2,530. Recent inspections in October 2024 identified various safety and compliance issues, including the need for proper postings regarding gas leak procedures, smoke detector requirements, and the building's registration number.

While the property has maintained a clean record regarding bedbug infestations since 2020 and all rodent inspections conducted between 2022-2025 have passed, the recurring maintenance issues and unauthorized modifications to the building raise significant concerns about current habitability standards. The building's violation history includes multiple citations for various maintenance and safety requirements, though many of these have been resolved. These include requirements for proper door hardware, notice postings, and the removal of illegal features such as a double-cylinder lock at the lot line gate. Some previously noted violations, such as those regarding an illegal cooking space and associated utilities in the basement, remain open as of October 2024, requiring further attention.