474 Lafayette Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11205

474 Lafayette Avenue is a four-story, eight-unit residential building in Bedford-Stuyvesant, constructed in 1905 and currently owned by Yossel Lichtman. The property has experienced ongoing maintenance challenges, particularly related to heating and water systems. Notable issues include multiple heat/hot water complaints in late 2023 and December 2024, with one incident in Apartment 2F resulting in a violation for scalding hot water (132 degrees) in October 2023.

The building has also faced significant water-related problems, with emergency complaints about sewage and heavy water leaks in December 2023 that HPD could not inspect due to access issues. Other maintenance concerns have included various repair needs for windows, doors, and walls, though most recent HPD inspections from 2023 found no violations for these issues. The property has documented rodent activity, with inspections throughout 2023-2025 consistently showing evidence of rat presence.

While the building has maintained a zero record for bedbug infestations in recent years (2020-2024), there have been environmental control board issues related to illegal conversions and occupancy violations, particularly concerning unauthorized SRO units and a problematic staircase installation, with a fine of $1,250 issued in 2020. A more recent violation remains active as of June 2023 related to failure to file an external low-pressure inspection. The building's maintenance history shows a pattern of recurring issues, particularly with HVAC systems, water leaks, and sanitation concerns, suggesting ongoing infrastructure challenges that have required multiple interventions by housing authorities.