138 East 51st Street, Brooklyn, NY 11203

The two-story, four-unit building at 138 East 51st Street in East Flatbush, owned by Neal Clarke, has experienced significant and recurring issues since 2021, with particular emphasis on heat and hot water problems. Most recently, in November 2024, there were multiple complaints regarding heat and hot water outages, with both entire building and apartment-specific issues recorded. These complaints marked the continuation of a pattern first noted in 2022, following a similar sequence of heating problems in 2023 where some units could not be inspected due to access issues.

The building currently has several open violations from a November 2023 inspection of Apartment 1R, including issues with heat, hot water, electrical outlets, and pest control (roach and mouse infestation), along with safety concerns regarding smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, and self-closing doors. An emergency plumbing complaint regarding a radiator issue and a water leak were filed in December 2021, though these were not properly investigated due to access denial. While the building passed a rodent inspection in December 2020, the more recent violations suggest ongoing pest management challenges.

The property has a concerning pattern of unresolved maintenance issues, particularly regarding essential services like heat and hot water, which have generated multiple 311 service requests and Housing Maintenance Code complaints. Recent inspections have revealed not only basic service deficiencies but also several safety and habitability concerns, including the need for proper heating, hot water, pest control, and building system access. Of particular note is the open violation regarding the failure to file the required annual bedbug report as of April 2024, and various heating system and safety equipment deficiencies in Apartment 1R, including missing smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, and heating system access issues. These persistent maintenance challenges suggest a pattern of reactive rather than preventative maintenance, with multiple instances of access problems during inspections hindering proper resolution of issues.