640 Ditmas Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11218

640 Ditmas Avenue, a 39-unit, 4-story New Law Tenement built in 1920 and currently owned by Abe Pultman, has experienced several recurrent maintenance issues in recent years. Most notably, there have been multiple complaints regarding heat and hot water problems, with the most recent emergency complaint in March 2025. The building has also faced persistent access issues during inspections, with housing authorities citing their inability to gain entry in several cases between 2024-2025, including investigations related to heating problems, door/window issues, and unsanitary conditions including pests.

Recent violations reveal ongoing safety concerns, particularly in apartment 35, where inspection in August 2024 identified issues with smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, as well as electrical problems. Prior violations from 2024-2023 indicate problems with building systems including plumbing (bathtubs/showers, water supply), electrical systems, and various door/window repairs needed throughout the building. There are multiple open violations regarding safety equipment, including non-functioning smoke and carbon monoxide detectors across different units.

The boiler system has a documented history of problems, with multiple complaints about defective/inoperative equipment noted between 2019-2023, including active Environmental Control Board violations from 2022-2020 regarding boiler operational issues. The building has also experienced some structural concerns, from a report of building shaking in 2020 to damage sustained in apartment #4 due to a boiler room explosion. However, inspections related to rodent presence have been passed, and there have been no reported issues with bedbugs in the most recent filing period (2022-2023). The property has exhibited some pattern of not providing necessary access for inspections, as evidenced by multiple "unable to gain access" dispositions across various complaint types.