4311 4th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11232

The three-story, six-unit old law tenement at 4311 4th Avenue in Sunset Park, constructed in 1931 and currently owned by Hong Jian Realty LLC, has experienced persistent heating and plumbing issues over the past two years, with multiple Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) complaints regarding heat and hot water systems affecting the entire building. Most notably, a concerning pattern of hot water temperature violations has emerged, with an inspection in May 2024 recording dangerously high temperatures of 168°F in Apartment 1R, exceeding the maximum allowable temperature of 130°F. The building has also faced sanitary challenges, including multiple pest infestations recorded through Housing Maintenance Code complaints in late 2024, affecting both Apartments 1R and 2L, along with a 2023 mold issue.

The property has two active violations related to failure to file external low-pressure inspections for 2021 and 2022, and it has a history of compliance issues during a renovation period in 2020 that resulted in several Environmental Control Board (ECB) violations with associated fines for unsafe construction practices, including inadequate safety equipment, unapproved electrical work, and various construction safety violations. Between 2023 and 2025, the building has maintained an active record of 311 complaints primarily focused on heat and hot water systems, which were often resolved through HPD inspections that found no violations, though these recurring issues suggest ongoing maintenance challenges. Recent inspections and complaints have also documented problems with building safety features, including defective smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in 2024.

While the property has shown compliance through the closure of numerous violations and complaints, the persistent nature of heating, hot water, and pest issues indicates ongoing maintenance concerns. The building's construction history reveals a pattern of work being done without proper permits or contrary to stop-work orders, particularly during 2020, though these violations were subsequently resolved. Despite these issues, there have been no reported bedbug infestations in recent years, and the most recent rodent inspection in 2017 resulted in a passing grade, though subsequent pest complaints suggest potential ongoing vermin challenges.