735 Bushwick Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11221

The three-story Old Law Tenement at 735 Bushwick Avenue, owned by Moses Berger and built in 1899, has experienced several significant maintenance and compliance issues over recent years. Most notably, there have been recurring heat and hot water problems, with HPD responding to emergency complaints in December 2021 and February 2023, and issuing violations related to inadequate hot water in Apartment 1. The building has also faced safety concerns, including multiple violations in 2018 regarding defective smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in Apartment 1, and issues with self-closing doors that were subsequently resolved.

Three rat activity incidents were recorded in 2024 and 2025, while earlier inspections between 2022-2023 showed mixed results with some passing and some indicating rat activity. The property has faced serious regulatory challenges, particularly in 2018 when several violations were issued regarding unauthorized dwelling unit conversions and work without permits, resulting in significant fines totaling $17,500. These violations concerned the illegal conversion of the first floor and cellar into additional dwelling units beyond the legally authorized three units.

The building's maintenance history shows periodic issues with unsanitary conditions, including mold complaints in 2018. While there have been multiple 311 complaints and housing maintenance code violations, most have been addressed and closed, including a 2022 bedbug report showing no infestations. Recent rodent inspections in 2024-2025 indicate ongoing challenges with pest control, though there has been consistent reporting of zero bedbug infestations in annual reports since 2020.