838 42nd Street, Brooklyn, NY 11232

838 42nd Street is a 20-unit, 4-story New Law Tenement building located in Borough Park and owned by Hyman Schattner. The 1916 structure has experienced several significant maintenance issues in recent years, most notably a recurring lack of heat and hot water in late 2024. Between October 2024 and December 2024, there were five separate complaints about heating issues affecting the entire building, with multiple instances where housing inspectors were unable to gain access to verify the conditions.

In December 2024, violations were issued regarding garbage and recycling storage, and in May 2025, there were recorded rodent sightings that resulted in violations being issued, with follow-up inspections scheduled. The building has also faced various safety and maintenance challenges as documented through Housing Maintenance Code Violations and Department of Buildings issues. As of June 2023, there are active violations related to the failure to file external low pressure inspections for the years 2018-2021. Recent inspections revealed several fire safety concerns, including the need to remove obstructions from fire escape routes at multiple floors, though these violations were certified as corrected by early 2024.

Other notable violations include a 2023 finding that required carbon monoxide detectors to be repaired or replaced in Apartment 18 and a 2024 finding regarding a mouse infestation in Apartment 15. The building's maintenance history shows some improvement in certain areas; for example, there have been no reported bedbug infestations in the past eight reporting periods from 2019 to 2024. However, the recurring nature of the heating issues, recent rodent problems, and multiple active violations related to safety equipment and inspections suggest ongoing maintenance challenges. While some older violations from 2023-2024 have been addressed and closed, the building continues to face scrutiny from various regulatory agencies.