581 Vanderbilt Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11238

581 Vanderbilt Avenue is a 4-story, 6-unit old law tenement building located in Prospect Heights, built in 1880 and currently owned by Abe Betesh. The building has experienced recurring issues with heat and hot water systems, particularly during the winters of 2024-2025 and 2023-2024, with multiple emergency complaints filed by tenants. The most recent heat/hot water complaint was filed in May 2025, following earlier complaints in February 2025 and November 2024, though inspections sometimes revealed restored services prior to inspection.

In spring 2024, the building received multiple violations requiring attention to doors, windows, and plumbing, with documented issues including defective toilet facilities and window components in apartment 2R, as well as concerns with interior doors and window panes in various apartments. More recently, as of 2024, the building has maintained an active Bedbug Reporting system showing zero infestations across multiple reporting periods since 2021, and passed rodent inspections in 2025 and 2024, indicating improved pest management. The property has one open Housing Maintenance Code violation as of June 2024 related to a broken window balance in apartment 2R, while previous violations were primarily addressed or closed following inspections.

The building's only recent external complaint was related to potential debris issues in May 2022, though this was inspected and found not to warrant further action. The most recent 311 service request, from May 2025, involved a food establishment inspection by the NYC Health Department. Compliance records show a pattern of heating system challenges persisting over multiple seasons, with varying responsiveness to resident complaints, while safety systems including smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors were found to require attention during 2024 inspections.