398 East 18th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11226

The 16-unit, 4-story New Law Tenement at 398 East 18th Street in Flatbush, owned by Yida Stern and constructed in 1927, has experienced several significant maintenance and safety issues over the past few years. Most recently, in May 2025, there was a complaint about unsanitary conditions related to pests, and in October 2024, a heavy water leak complaint was filed, though inspectors were unable to gain access for verification.

The building has a notable history of rodent-related issues, with multiple complaints in early 2023, though inspections conducted in January and February 2023 passed without violations. A pattern of emergency door/window issues was evident in late 2022, with multiple complaints about window frame problems.

Three serious fire escape-related violations were documented in 2021, concerning obstructions at the 2nd and 3rd story balconies from air conditioning units, while more recent violations from June 2023 required repairs to fire-retardant ceiling plaster, a self-closing door in the south yard, and a public hall ceiling paint issue. The building's plumbing system has been a recurring concern, with a heavy flow water leak complaint in 2024 and past plumbing violations from 2019, though the most recent bedbug reports from 2021-2024 show zero infested units, indicating successful eradication efforts. The property has consistently filed annual bedbug reports showing no infestations, and multiple rodent inspections between 2016-2023 have passed without violations, suggesting some improvement in pest management.