553 Mcdonald Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11218

The 6-unit, 3-story New Law Tenement building at 553 McDonald Avenue in Kensington, owned by Mumtaz Jahan and built in 1930, has experienced recurring heating and hot water system issues throughout 2025, with multiple open and closed complaints recorded between March and May 2025. The most recent concerns include an open heat/hot water complaint from May 2025 and a resolved safety issue regarding smoke detectors from May 2025 that resulted in violations. The building has persistent maintenance issues, particularly in apartment 2R, which has open C-class violations from December 2024 for roach and mice infestations, vinyl floor tile repairs, and bathroom water leak issues.

Additionally, there are notable safety concerns with unaddressed violations regarding smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detecting devices in apartment 3R, as well as historical violations related to improper electrical work and system modifications. From a historical perspective, the building has undergone several inspections and service requests, with particular attention to safety and maintenance standards. The property has maintained an active record of 311 complaints primarily related to heating issues, with HPD inspections often encountering access issues.

The Department of Buildings has documented various violations, including a 2023 active violation for failure to file the 2020 external low-pressure inspection and a 2019 violation for not filing the 2017 boiler inspection report. Building inspections between 2018-2020 regarding rodent issues consistently passed, and there have been no recorded bedbug infestations in the past three reporting periods (2021-2024). The property also has several environmental control board violations from 2018-2020, including issues with unauthorized modifications and occupancy concerns in the cellar area, though many of these were resolved or have no balance due.