445 Liberty Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11207

The three-story, three-unit tenement at 445 Liberty Avenue, owned by Yoel Shafer and built in 1901, has experienced significant maintenance and health issues in recent months. Most notably, there has been an ongoing rat infestation problem, with multiple complaints and inspections by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene reporting rat sightings and confirming rat activity between May 2025 and July 2025.

The building has also faced substantial issues with access and maintenance, particularly in relation to flooring concerns, with multiple complaints filed in May 2025 that inspectors were unable to access during their visits. Other concerning incidents include a broken window guard reported in May 2025 (though claimed to be corrected), various plumbing issues documented in 2025 (including multiple violations of the Housing Maintenance Code regarding water supply problems), and unsanitary conditions including mold. The property has a history of compliance issues extending back to 2024, including violations regarding missing fire safety equipment in Apartment 2FL (smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector) and concerns about bathroom conditions in Apartment 1B.

There have been multiple Housing Maintenance Code violations related to egress and exit passageways, with public halls being used for storage at all three floors, creating obstruction concerns. While the building has shown improvement in some areas, as evidenced by the resolution of certain complaints and violations, the persistent nature of the rodent issues and recent spike in service requests suggest ongoing challenges with building maintenance and pest control. The property has maintained a bedbug-free record from 2021 to present, indicating good management regarding this particular pest issue.