196 Jefferson Street, Brooklyn, NY 11206

196 Jefferson Street is a 3-story, 6-unit old law tenement building located in Bushwick and owned by 196 Jefferson Street Inc. The building, constructed in 1931, has experienced numerous maintenance issues over recent years, with particular concern for heat and pest problems. Most notably, there was a significant heat and hot water outage affecting the entire building in December 2019, though these services were reportedly restored shortly thereafter.

The building has a documented history of HVAC and electrical issues, with multiple complaints about inadequate lighting and heating systems between 2019 and 2024. Additionally, there have been persistent problems with rat activity, as evidenced by multiple inspections between 2023 and 2025 showing continued rodent presence. The property has been subject to several Housing Maintenance Code violations, including open violations from 2019 relating to gas leak procedures, vestibule door locks, and notice requirements that remain unresolved as of 2024.

While the building's bedbug report from 2024 indicates no current infestation, the property has maintained an active status for external low-pressure inspection requirements as of September 2024. Recent inspections have continued to reveal pest control challenges, with rodent activity consistently documented through 2025. The building's maintenance record from 2019 shows multiple documented issues requiring attention, including plumbing problems, window frame repairs, and various safety concerns that required HPD intervention and resulted in both issued violations and emergency service requests.