538 West 159th Street
538 West 159th Street in Washington Heights, Manhattan, has 338 open HPD violations, 67 of them class C, and 11 of 10 units are rent-stabilized, as of Oct 24, 2026. StreetSpy grade: F (25/100).
Multi-family walk-up · 10 units · Built 1913
StreetSpy grade: F (Severe, 25/100)
- 67 immediately hazardous violations open (the class that covers no heat, pests, lead paint and similar).
- 34 open violations are classified rent-impairing under NY Multiple Dwelling Law section 302-a.
- 23 heat or hot water complaints to 311 in the last 12 months.
- 11 of 10 units are rent-stabilized; 12 on the 2007 tax bill.
More open violations per unit than 9 in 10 Manhattan buildings this size.
- Repairs: High (338 open, 67 class C), records as of Oct 24, 2026
- Heat and hot water: 23 complaints, 12 mo, records as of Oct 23, 2026
- Pests: Clear (Owner reported none, 3 yr), records as of Oct 26, 2026
- Safety: Clear (No open DOB violations), records as of Oct 23, 2026
- Registration: Expired Sep 1, 2025, records as of Oct 3, 2026
Housing code violations (HPD)
338 open violations: 67 class C (immediately hazardous), 226 class B, 43 class A, 2 class I (HPD orders such as lead paint or heat orders, not a hazard class). 127 issued in the last 12 months. 841 on record. Oldest open violation issued 2018-07-23. Newest violation issued 2026-09-29.
2 closed in the last 90 days. Median 141 days from issue to close for the 14 violations closed in the last 12 months.
34 open violations are classified rent-impairing under NY Multiple Dwelling Law section 302-a. Section 302-a; NY Courts guidance on getting repairs.
- Class C: Lead paint hazard, 1st riser from the west, north wall, 3rd room from the north, 2nd floor. - CORRECT THE LEAD-BASED PAINT HAZARD-PAINT THAT IS PEELING OR ON A DETERIORATED SUBSURFACE AND EITHER TESTED INCONCLUSIVE FOR LEAD CONTENT AT 0.5MG/CM2 OR TESTED POSITIVE FOR LEAD CONTENT ON A METAL OR CERAMIC SUBSTRATE AS SET FORTH IN (28 RCNY §11-07(b)) USING WORK PRACTICES SET FORTH IN 28 RCNY §11-06(b)(2). 1st RISER FROM WEST AT NORTH WALL IN THE 3rd ROOM FROM NORTH LOCATED AT APT 3, 2nd STORY, 1st APARTMENT FROM NORTH AT EAST (apt 3), issued 2026-09-29. HPD violation 19261108
- Class C: Mice, throughout the apartment, 3rd floor. HMC ADM CODE: § 27-2017.4 ABATE THE INFESTATION CONSISTING OF MICE IN THE ENTIRE APARTMENT LOCATED AT APT 6, 3rd STORY, 1st APARTMENT FROM SOUTH AT WEST (apt 6), issued 2026-07-01. HPD violation 19043128
- Class C: Roaches, throughout the apartment, 3rd floor. HMC ADM CODE: § 27-2017.4 ABATE THE INFESTATION CONSISTING OF ROACHES IN THE ENTIRE APARTMENT LOCATED AT APT 6, 3rd STORY, 1st APARTMENT FROM SOUTH AT WEST (apt 6), issued 2026-07-01. HPD violation 19043127
- Class C: Mice, throughout the apartment, 3rd floor. HMC ADM CODE: § 27-2017.4 ABATE THE INFESTATION CONSISTING OF MICE IN THE ENTIRE APARTMENT LOCATED AT APT 6, 3rd STORY, 1st APARTMENT FROM SOUTH AT WEST (apt 6), issued 2026-06-01. HPD violation 18970702
- Class C: Roaches, throughout the apartment, 1st floor. HMC ADM CODE: § 27-2017.4 ABATE THE INFESTATION CONSISTING OF ROACHES IN THE ENTIRE APARTMENT LOCATED AT APT 1, 1st STORY, 1st APARTMENT FROM NORTH AT EAST (apt 1), issued 2026-06-01. HPD violation 18970696
- Class C: Mice, throughout the apartment, 1st floor. HMC ADM CODE: § 27-2017.4 ABATE THE INFESTATION CONSISTING OF MICE IN THE ENTIRE APARTMENT LOCATED AT APT 1, 1st STORY, 1st APARTMENT FROM NORTH AT EAST (apt 1), issued 2026-06-01. HPD violation 18970691
- Class C: Mice, throughout the apartment, 3rd floor. HMC ADM CODE: § 27-2017.4 ABATE THE INFESTATION CONSISTING OF MICE IN THE ENTIRE APARTMENT LOCATED AT APT 6, 3rd STORY, 1st APARTMENT FROM SOUTH AT WEST (apt 6), issued 2026-06-01. HPD violation 18970699
- Class C: Rats (hallway). 567 (C) § 27-2017, 27-2017.1, 27-2017.4, 27-2017.5, 27-2017.8, 27-2019, 27-2021 HMC: ABATE THE NUISANCE CONSISTING OF EVIDENCE OF RATS AND ALL UNDERLYING CAUSES CREATING THE PEST INFESTATIONS, BY USING INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT (IPM), ELIMINATE ALL BURROW ENTRY AND PASSAGEWAYS, PEST NESTS, HOLES, GAPS OR CRACKS IN WALLS, CEILINGS, FLOORS, FIXING LEAKS AND MANAGING GARBAGE IN PUBLIC AREAS. EVIDENCE FOUND AT THROUGHOUT AT BASEMENT, issued 2026-05-11. HPD violation 18879049
311 housing complaints
99 in the last 12 months, 202 in 5 years. Most common: Heat/Hot Water (23), Paint/Plaster (23), Unsanitary Condition (19), Plumbing (15), Water Leak (12).
Bedbugs
The owner reported 0 infested units in the last 3 years of filings. HPD's bedbug filings are self-reported by the owner once a year; HPD does not inspect to confirm them.
- 2026: No bedbug filing on record for this year
- 2025: No bedbug filing on record for this year
- 2024: Owner reported 0 infested units
- 2023: Owner reported 0 infested units
- 2022: Owner reported 0 infested units
- 2021: Owner reported 0 infested units
Buildings department (DOB)
No open DOB violations. 0 DOB violations on record. Check on DOB BIS.
Evictions and housing court
2 executed evictions in the last 3 years (2 on record). 0 open HPD cases; 0 harassment findings.
Rent stabilization
11 of 10 units rent-stabilized as of 2024. Stabilized renewals: 0% for one year and 0% for two years under RGB Order #58 (Oct 1, 2026 to Sep 30, 2027).
Rent-stabilized units on city tax bills: 11 in 2024, 12 in 2007. Source: DOF tax bills for 2007 and 2024; years with no bill on file are left out.
Owner and management
Owner: RH 536-538 W 159 STREET LP. Head officer: LESLIE BERKOFF. Managing agent: LANGSAM PROP. SER. CORP.. See the full portfolio.
Last HPD registration Jan 21, 2025. HPD registration expired Sep 1, 2025 and had not been renewed as of Oct 3, 2026. Buildings with 3+ units must register with HPD every year.
Tax lot and city IDs
BBL 1021170017, HPD building ID 42827. HPD Online, ACRIS, DOB BIS.
Nearest subway
- 157 St (1), 2 min walk
- 163 St-Amsterdam Av (C), 4 min walk
- 155 St (C), 6 min walk
How the grade is calculated
| Factor | On record | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Open HPD violations | 338 open (67 class C, 226 class B, 43 class A, 2 class I). 34 rent-impairing | −45 |
| 311 housing complaints (12 mo) | 99 | −20 |
| Bedbug reports (3 yr) | None reported | 0 |
| Executed evictions (3 yr) | 2 | −10 |
| Housing litigation | No open cases | 0 |
| Open DOB violations | None | 0 |
Sources: NYC HPD Housing Maintenance Code Violations, NYC 311 Service Requests, NYC HPD Bedbug Reporting, NYC Marshal Evictions (DOI), NYC HPD Housing Litigations, NYC DOB Violations, NYC DOF tax bills (via JustFix Who Owns What portfolio API, v2), NYC HPD Property Registration. Methodology. Report generated 2026-10-27.