539 Chester Street, Brooklyn, NY 11212

539 Chester Street is a 2-story, 4-unit New Law tenement building constructed in 1930, currently owned by Joe Redek. The property has recently experienced multiple maintenance issues, particularly in early 2025, with eight separate complaints filed on March 17, 2025, including electrical problems (lighting and no lighting), water leaks (heavy flow), ceiling paint/plaster issues, and a rodent sighting. All these complaints were investigated by HPD and while no housing law violations were found, they were all connected to reports of unsanitary conditions and pest problems.

The building has a history of pest infestations, with documented mouse and roach problems in Apartment 1R as of August 2024. Several housing maintenance code violations were issued following inspections, including concerns about missing safety devices (smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector), a defective floor in the kitchen, and multiple problems related to ceiling repairs. Additional structural issues were identified in late 2024, including a defective vestibule door on the first story and various hallway maintenance problems such as broken fire retardant plaster and unapproved storage of furniture in public areas.

Recent rodent activity has been consistently documented in 2025, with inspections in February, March, and May all indicating the presence of rats. An illegal conversion complaint was filed in August 2024, though the inspector was unable to gain access on the first attempt. While a bedbug inspection report from 2024 shows no infested units, the building's current and past maintenance issues suggest ongoing challenges with building maintenance and upkeep. The property has required multiple emergency interventions for various building systems and continues to have active complaints regarding zoning non-conformity as of March 2025.