521 49th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11220

The 8-unit, 4-story New Law Tenement at 521 49th Street in Sunset Park, built in 1905 and currently owned by Jack Berkovitch, has faced recurring heat and hot water issues throughout recent years, with five documented building-wide complaints between 2018-2023, including multiple incidents in late 2022 and early 2023 where HPD was either unable to gain access for inspection or found that service had been restored. The building also experienced water leak problems in late 2018, with three separate complaints filed in November of that year.

More concerning were several significant safety violations identified in late 2018, particularly affecting the 4th-floor apartment (4L), including issues with fire escape access, smoke detector functionality, and unauthorized locking mechanisms, though these were subsequently addressed and closed. The property has maintained a clean record regarding bedbug infestations over the past five reporting periods from 2019 to 2025, with zero documented cases of infestation, eradication, or re-infestation.

Inspection records show compliance with annual bedbug reporting requirements. Previous violations from 2019 included a stair safety issue involving loose wooden treads, which was promptly corrected. The building's management has shown responsiveness to building maintenance issues, though the recurring nature of the heating system problems suggests ongoing challenges with this particular infrastructure.