217 Hancock Street, Brooklyn, NY 11216

217 Hancock Street is a 10-unit, 4-story residential building located in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, owned by Maria Lekakis and constructed in 1890. The property has experienced ongoing pest management challenges, particularly with rodent activity, as evidenced by multiple inspections in 2024-2025 showing consistent rat activity. While the building has maintained a clean record regarding bedbug infestations (with all recent bedbug reports showing zero infested units from 2020 through the present), it has faced difficulties with basic maintenance compliance.

Notably, there was a plumbing complaint regarding a bathtub/shower from May 2024 that HPD could not inspect due to access issues, and the building has had multiple violations related to the failure to file required reports, including a 2020 external low-pressure inspection violation that was dismissed. The building's management has also struggled with access compliance for Local Law 188/17 inspections, with inspectors unable to gain access during multiple attempts in 2023 and 2024. The property has shown some recent attention to maintenance issues, with several bait applications recorded in early 2025 and mid-2024, suggesting attempts to address the rodent problem.

Inspection records from 2024-2025 indicate ongoing rodent activity, with multiple compliance inspections noting the presence of rats. The building's history shows a pattern of compliance challenges, particularly regarding access for inspections and the filing of required reports, though most violations appear to be ultimately resolved or dismissed. The current rodent management efforts, as evidenced by the application of bait and inspection responses, indicate active attempts to manage the pest situation, though the persistent documentation of rat activity suggests ongoing challenges in this area.