5203 5th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11220

The four-story, 12-unit tenement building at 5203 5th Avenue in Sunset Park, owned by Alfredo Zefferino and constructed in 1905, has experienced several significant maintenance issues in recent years. Most notably, there have been two heat-related complaints in 2024-2025, including a recent DOHMH report of inadequate heat that was closed in March 2025. The building has faced recurring challenges with basic utilities and appliances, evidenced by multiple HPD complaints regarding heat/hot water (March 2024), cooking gas (October 2023), and appliance issues including electric/gas range problems (October 2023), though no violations were found during inspections.

A concerning bedbug infestation pattern emerged between 2019 and 2022, with three incidents reported in Apartment 2 between 2020-2022, though no infestations have been reported in the past three filing periods (2022-2024). The building's maintenance history reveals a range of compliance issues, particularly affecting Apartment 2, which experienced multiple violations in 2021-2022 including problems with window guards, broken windows, carbon monoxide detector issues, and peeling paint. There was also one open violation in 2022 regarding a defective waste line connection at the bathroom wash basin.

The property had an illegal conversion complaint filed in October 2022, though inspectors were unable to gain access during their two attempts. While certain maintenance issues have been addressed over time, as evidenced by various HPD inspection outcomes, the building continues to grapple with fundamental systems maintenance, particularly heating, as shown by the recent 2025 heat complaint. The absence of recent pest infestations is a positive development, though historical patterns suggest monitoring of this issue had been necessary. The building's record shows some improvements in recent years, with no new violations issued since 2022 and some complaints being resolved without violations.