1696 East 53rd Street, Brooklyn, NY 11234

The two-family house at 1696 East 53rd Street in Flatlands, owned by Dawn Senior, has a concerning record of maintenance issues, particularly regarding basic services and pest control, over the past several years. Most recently, in July 2024, the building received health department violations related to rodent conditions that required follow-up inspections, with confirmed rat activity noted in both August and September 2024. Between late 2020 and 2024, the building has faced recurring problems with essential services, most notably heat and hot water, with multiple complaints and violations regarding inadequate supplies in both apartments.

These systemic issues are particularly evident in violation notices from 2020-2021, which document problems with hot/cold water supply and heating systems in both the 2nd floor and 2NDFLO apartments. The property has also experienced access-related inspection challenges, as seen in several HPD complaints from February 2022 regarding heat/hot water, door/window issues, and pest problems, where inspectors were unable to gain access to units. A significant issue arose in February 2022 concerning the boiler, though the inspection was marked as "unable to gain access" on what was noted as a second final attempt.

The building's history includes two separate "Vacant, Open and Unguarded" complaints - one in October 2019 (which was dismissed upon inspection) and a more recent one in July 2024 that resulted in violations. Current open violations, particularly one issued in November 2024, indicate ongoing maintenance challenges. While some past complaints from 2020-2021 were resolved with corrected violations and inspections, the persistence of rodent activity and recent violations suggest continuing maintenance and pest control challenges at the property.