868 Hancock Street, Brooklyn, NY 11233

The three-story, three-unit Old Law Tenement building at 868 Hancock Street, owned by Wilson Welch, has experienced ongoing maintenance challenges since 2023. Most recently, there have been two electrical issues in 2025, including a power outage in May and lighting problems in April, though inspections did not reveal housing law violations. A series of concerning issues emerged in 2024, particularly affecting the third-floor apartment (APT 3), where violations were documented for pests (mice and roaches), peeling paint, broken cabinets, and inoperable smoke/carbon monoxide detectors.

Three complaints were filed in April 2024 alone, with some inspections unable to be completed. Earlier in 2024, there were also complaints about unsanitary conditions regarding garbage/recycling storage and multiple pest-related issues, with varying outcomes regarding violations. A heat/hot water emergency was reported and resolved in February 2024. The building has undergone inspections for rodent activity, with mixed results between 2022 and 2025.

While recent inspections in May and June 2025 passed, previous inspections noted rat activity in late 2024, August 2023, and other periods. The property filed its bedbug reports in 2022 and 2023, showing no infested units during the specified periods. A cooking gas emergency was reported and resolved in July 2023. The building has some open violations as of 2025, including issues with smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, window guards, and pest infestations in the third-floor apartment.