540 50th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11220

The 9-unit, 4-story tenement at 540 50th Street in Sunset Park, owned by Jian Zheng and constructed in 1905, has experienced several notable maintenance and safety issues over recent years. Most concerning are the recurring rodent problems, with inspections in 2024-2025 showing periods of rat activity, though a compliance inspection in May 2025 passed with no major violations. The building faced significant safety equipment issues in 2022, particularly affecting apartment 4R, with violations for non-functional smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, and door self-closing mechanisms, though these were eventually resolved.

The building has a history of heat and hot water problems, with emergency complaints in 2019 and 2021, though records indicate restoration of services. More recent violations include unsatisfactory garbage/recycling storage conditions (2025) and issues with lead-based paint hazard control requirements in units 2F, 3F, and 4R (2022). The property has maintained an active bedbug reporting history for 2022-2025, with all reports showing zero infested units, suggesting effective pest management practices. The building's infrastructure has shown various maintenance challenges, including plumbing issues in 2019 (affecting water supply and radiator systems) and appliance problems.

While several violations have been resolved through inspections and repairs, including issues with window guards, the presence of both mouse and rat sightings in recent years, along with the frequency of rodent inspections, indicates ongoing challenges with pest control. The property has generally demonstrated compliance with bedbug reporting requirements, with no reported infestations since 2019-2020. Recent rodent inspections have shown mixed results, with some initial inspections noting rat activity, though these are often followed by compliance inspections that pass. The building's violation history illustrates a pattern of addressing safety equipment deficiencies and maintenance issues, though some concerns, such as lead paint compliance, remain open as of the most recent inspection data.