556 Lafayette Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11205

556 Lafayette Avenue is an 8-unit, 4-story old-law tenement building built in 1931 in Bedford-Stuyvesant, currently owned by Chaim Goldberger. The property has experienced recurring heating and hot water issues throughout 2025, with multiple emergency complaints filed between April and May 2025 regarding inadequate heat and hot water affecting entire floors and individual apartments. Residents have also reported problems with cooking gas and appliance issues, particularly with electric/gas ranges during the same period. The building has several open housing maintenance code violations as of 2024-2025, including: 1.

Defective lock at building entrance door (Class C violation). 2. Multiple violations in Apartment 6 related to defective smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, pest infestations (roaches and mice), and various maintenance issues (including a broken window counterbalance). 3. Accumulated violations regarding encumbrances in public hallways on multiple floors.

The building's mechanical systems have shown persistent regulatory compliance issues, with multiple violations for failing to file required boiler inspection reports between 2018-2024, as well as a current Class 2 ECB violation for not filing a complete boiler inspection report with an associated penalty of $3,125. While the most recent rodent inspection in July 2025 passed, there have been multiple instances of rat activity requiring bait application and interventions between 2023-2025, indicating ongoing pest management challenges. The property has documented issues with obtaining access for inspections, particularly during 2025's heating complaints, where HPD inspectors reported being unable to gain entry to several apartments. Despite numerous complaints and violations, the building's management has frequently resulted in closed complaint statuses without resolution confirmation, suggesting some challenges in addressing resident concerns. The building's age and deteriorating mechanical systems are evidenced by the pattern of complaints and violations, particularly regarding heating and hot water systems, which have been a recurring problem throughout 2025.