5 East 196th Street, Bronx, NY 10468

The 6-story, 50-unit building at 5 East 196th Street in Fordham, owned by Hysen Mehmetaj and constructed in 1941, has experienced multiple significant maintenance issues in recent years. Notably, there was a concerning pattern of heat and hot water problems in January 2025, with ten separate complaints recorded within just two weeks, all classified as emergency situations though most were subsequently verified as corrected by HPD. More recently, in June 2025, there were issues with doors/windows requiring HPD intervention and violations were issued.

The building has also faced structural and safety concerns, including multiple violations related to fire escape access being blocked by household items (August 2024), and the presence of roach infestations in apartments 308 and 406 (November 2024). The elevator system has been a recurring point of concern, with violations recorded in 2024-2025 regarding maintenance issues and service availability. The property has shown improvement in certain areas, with no bedbug infestations reported in the last three annual filings (2022-2024), and two recent passed rodent inspections (2023-2024) suggesting some progress in pest control.

However, there are several active violations that require attention, including failure to file mandatory energy benchmarking reports (2024) and historical issues with building shaking/vibration complaints (2024). The building's management has faced challenges with maintaining compliance across various systems, as evidenced by multiple Department of Buildings complaints and violations, including those related to illegal conversions and electrical wiring issues in early 2025. The property has also experienced periodic problems with basic services, such as the hot water and heat system which generated numerous complaints during the winter months of early 2025. While many of these issues have been addressed when reported, the frequency and recurrence of certain problems suggest ongoing maintenance challenges.