720 East 31st Street, Brooklyn, NY 11210

720 East 31st Street is a 6-story, 62-unit Class A residential building constructed in 1963, currently owned by Betty Forde. The building has experienced several notable maintenance and safety issues over recent years, with the most recent concern being a heat and hot water complaint in January 2025 that HPD was unable to inspect. In late 2024, multiple complaints were filed regarding fire escape safety, garbage/recycling storage, and missing signage, though inspections found no housing law violations except for the open signage issue.

The building has faced significant maintenance challenges in 2022, particularly in apartment 3D, with multiple violations issued for issues including pest infestations (mice and roaches), plumbing problems (bathtub/shower), and appliance concerns (refrigerator). There are currently several open violations from March 2022 in apartment 3D regarding safety equipment (missing carbon monoxide and smoke detectors), broken plaster/paint in the bathroom ceiling, defective entrance door, leaky bathtub faucets, and refrigerator problems. The building's infrastructure maintenance has raised concerns, with active violations related to FISP Cycle 9B reporting requirements dating back to 2018-2023, including a $1,250 penalty for failure to submit the required critical examination report of exterior walls. While the building has maintained a pest-free status in recent bedbug reports (2022-2023), it experienced rat activity in a 2012 inspection, though subsequent inspections passed.

The property has a mixed history of responding to maintenance issues, as evidenced by the varied nature of complaints and violations. The most recent safety concerns have focused on building systems (heat/hot water) and fire safety, while earlier issues centered on unit-specific problems (pests, plumbing, appliances). The building's management has demonstrated compliance with some regulatory requirements, as shown by the successful resolution of many past violations and the proper filing of bedbug reports. However, the presence of several open violations from 2021-2022, particularly related to safety equipment in apartment 3D and FISP reporting requirements, suggests ongoing maintenance and compliance challenges.