81 Underhill Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11238

81 Underhill Avenue, located in Prospect Heights and owned by Meyer Gutnick, is a 4-story, 8-unit New Law Tenement building constructed in 1931. The property has experienced recurring maintenance and safety concerns, particularly in 2025, with multiple HPD complaints regarding heating, electrical systems, and unsanitary conditions including mold, though inspections were often unable to confirm these issues due to lack of access. Notable building-wide problems this year included heating and hot water outages affecting all units, and electrical lighting issues.

The building has also faced significant rodent management challenges, with periods of rat activity recorded in 2023 and 2024, though recent inspections in 2025 received passing results. The property has an active violation for failing to file low-pressure inspection records from 2018 and 2023, and a concerning history of failed access during inspections related to illegal conversions and boiler issues dating back to 2018, though some violations from 2018 related to unauthorized basement units were resolved with a $1,600 penalty. Recent inspections in 2024 revealed various maintenance issues, including problems with bathroom floor tiles, plaster surfaces, windows, and evidence of a mouse infestation in Apartment 1R.

Despite these ongoing concerns, the building has shown some improvement in recent months, with rodent inspections in 2025 passing and no bedbug reports showing infestation in the past three reporting periods. The building's maintenance history suggests persistent challenges with basic infrastructure and inspection compliance, though recent months have shown slightly improved conditions with better compliance on pest control. Tenants should note the recurring issue of HPD inspections being unable to gain access for verification of reported problems.