700 New Lots Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11207

The two-family house at 700 New Lots Avenue in East New York, owned by Joel Karpen, has experienced several significant maintenance issues since its construction in 2012. Most recently, in October 2024, there were violations issued regarding heat and hot water problems in one apartment (APT2) that were confirmed by HPD inspections.

This followed a pattern of heating issues, including an emergency complaint for the entire building in August 2018, though inspectors were unable to access the premises. The building has also faced pest infestations, with documented problems in January 2021 involving both mice and roaches in Apartment 1, for which violations were issued and certified as corrected in March 2021. Other maintenance concerns have included window/frame issues requiring paint/plaster work (February 2019) and a gas range appliance complaint (October 2024), though the latter complaint was not found to violate housing laws during inspection.

The property has undergone multiple rodent inspections between 2010 and 2015, with the earliest months after construction showing some initial compliance failures, though it subsequently passed inspections in 2013, 2014, and 2015. The building's documented maintenance history suggests recurring challenges with heat/hot water systems and pest control, with the most recent complaints in late 2024 indicating ongoing concerns with building systems. While some violations have been properly addressed and closed, such as the 2021 pest issues and the 2024 heat/hot water problems, the pattern of complaints indicates these are not isolated incidents but rather ongoing maintenance challenges in the building's operation.