542 Monroe Street, Brooklyn, NY 11221

542 Monroe Street is a 4-unit, 4-story Old Law Tenement building located in Bedford-Stuyvesant, constructed in 1931 and currently owned by Kerron Rock. The building has experienced recurring issues with heat and hot water availability, with multiple complaints in 2022-2023 regarding inadequate service, including an entire building outage in December 2022 and apartment-specific issues in February 2023.

There have also been persistent pest-related problems, with four separate unsanitary condition complaints about pests between January and February 2023, though inspections were unable to gain access to verify these conditions. The building has accumulated several significant Housing Maintenance Code violations that remain open as of 2024, including non-compliance with bedbug reporting requirements and several fire safety concerns such as the need for self-closing doors and proper emergency notices. The property has active Environmental Control Board violations from 2020 related to improper piping and work permit issues regarding a gas-fired boiler installation, with penalties totaling $9,375.

Recent rodent inspections show a mixed record, with rat activity documented in 2022 and 2024, though the most recent inspection in November 2024 passed compliance. During late 2022, multiple violations were documented regarding the need for various safety notices in the public hall, including requirements for smoke detector and carbon monoxide device notifications, as well as gas leak procedures. The building's maintenance history suggests ongoing challenges with basic utility services and building upkeep, particularly regarding compliance with safety and sanitation requirements, though some recent improvements are indicated by the passed rodent inspection in late 2024.