221 East 5th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11218

221 East 5th Street is a 12-unit, four-story New Law tenement building constructed in 1926 and currently owned by Jonathan Bakhash. The building has experienced recurring issues with heat and hot water, with multiple complaints reported in 2024 alone, including both entire building and apartment-specific incidents. Notably, a heat/hot water complaint from August 2024 was closed without inspections being completed. In 2023-2024, there were several significant maintenance issues, including a construction lead dust complaint (currently in progress as of July 2024), a slow water leak reported in February 2024, and various inspections revealing violations related to heating systems, such as locked access doors and inadequate heat supply.

The building has also faced several safety-related concerns between 2022 and 2024, including a January 2023 pest infestation that was reportedly corrected, plumbing issues, and multiple violations related to fire safety systems. These violations included problems with smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, and self-closing doors, particularly in Apartment 9. A persistent water leak issue affecting Apartment 10's kitchen required repairs in 2023, and there were concerns about plaster and paint conditions in multiple units. The building has undergone inspections for unauthorized hotel rooms and work without permits in 2024, though inspectors were unable to gain access in these cases.

However, the property has maintained a consistent record of having no bedbug infestations, as evidenced by reports from 2019 through 2025 showing zero infested units. The violation history shows a mix of Class B and C violations over the past two years, with many being promptly addressed and certified as corrected. While some issues remain open, particularly relating to fire egress systems, the majority of past violations have been resolved. The building's age and maintenance history suggest ongoing challenges with basic systems like heating and plumbing, though the lack of recent bedbug reports indicates effective pest management practices.