161 Hancock Street, Brooklyn, NY 11216

161 Hancock Street is a three-story, three-unit residential building in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, built in 1887 and currently owned by Etai Vardi. The building has experienced several notable issues over the past five years, most significantly a concerning current active complaint from May 2025 regarding "Vacant, Open and Unguarded" conditions.

The property has a documented pattern of pest-related problems, with multiple bedbug violation notices issued between 2021 and 2024, though the most recent 2024 bedbug report shows no infested units. The building has also faced rodent challenges, with the most recent inspection in July 2025 indicating rat activity, marking a departure from the previously consistent pattern of passing inspections. Historical complaints have included plumbing issues, with a water leak reported and investigated in 2021, and various maintenance concerns in 2018 including stairway issues and pest infestations, although no violations were ultimately issued in these cases.

The building's violation history reveals persistent maintenance challenges, particularly in 2018 when multiple issues were documented in apartment 4, including electrical concerns, floor repairs needed, and rodent problems, with certain violations remaining open at that time. While the property appears to have addressed some previous issues, as evidenced by closed violation statuses, the recent active complaint regarding vacant and unguarded conditions and the return of rat activity as of July 2025 suggest ongoing maintenance and security concerns. The building has undergone regular rodent inspections since 2022, though results have varied between passing and failing for "Other Reasons," indicating inconsistent compliance with pest management requirements.