681 5th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11215

The three-story, two-family house at 681 5th Avenue in Sunset Park, owned by Colleen Maratea, has experienced several significant maintenance issues over the past few years. Most notably, there have been persistent heating and hot water problems, with two separate complaints filed in December 2021 and December 2022 regarding heat and hot water issues in the building, particularly affecting the third-floor apartment.

While the 2021 complaint was investigated by HPD without resulting violations, the 2022 incident was classified as an emergency complaint. A more serious hot water violation was documented in December 2021, citing water temperatures exceeding the maximum allowable limit of 130 degrees in the third-floor apartment, though this was certified as corrected in August 2022. The building has also been cited for multiple violations related to hallway conditions during a September 2022 inspection, specifically regarding household items obstructing the public hallways on both the second and third stories, and for defective plaster surfaces and paint issues in the third-story hallway ceiling.

These violations, classified as "B" level, remain open as of the most recent inspection records. Prior to these issues, a rodent inspection conducted in December 2018 resulted in a passing grade, suggesting that at that time, the building did not have significant pest control concerns. The property, built in 1931, has a relatively long history but has faced some ongoing maintenance challenges in recent years, particularly regarding building systems such as heating and hot water.