198 Utica Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11213

The three-story, two-family house at 198 Utica Avenue in Crown Heights, owned by Boruch Okounev, has experienced several maintenance and safety issues over the past few years, with the most recent cluster of concerns occurring in August 2024. During this period, violations were documented related to carbon monoxide detector absence and pest infestations (including roaches and mice) in both apartments, particularly impacting apartment 2 on the second story.

Additionally, there were maintenance issues including water leaks in the bathroom ceiling of apartment 2, though some water-related complaints in August 2024 did not result in violations. Previous records show recurring maintenance challenges in apartment 2, including 2022 violations for water leaks, mold, and defective plastered surfaces in the bathroom, though these were subsequently certified as corrected. The building's safety systems have been a recurring focus, with 2024 complaints regarding smoke detectors and ventilation systems, though most of these did not result in violations.

Recent inspections in August 2024 identified multiple issues that required attention, including a missing carbon monoxide detector (violation issued), pest infestations (violations issued), and a bathroom water leak problem (violation issued). The property has maintained a clean record regarding bedbug infestations over the past four reporting periods from 2020 to 2024, with no documented cases of infestation, eradication, or re-infestation. While the building's violations from 2022 and 2024 have been officially closed, the frequency and nature of recent complaints suggest ongoing maintenance and safety oversight challenges, particularly in apartment 2.