ByTenantsByTenants home

735 Knickerbocker Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11237

Built 1909 · 4-story walk-up with stores · 6 apartments

22 immediately hazardous violations open. 39 open in all. On the state's rent-stabilization list for 2024.

Tenant reviews
None yetLived here? Reviews open soon.
Open violations
3922 · 15 · 2
Public record
Updated yesterdayFrom the city’s own data (, 311, the courts), refreshed nightly.

Violations issued each year

Violations issued each year
YearHazardousNon-hazardous
202200
202300
202400
202500
2026 so far222

Plus 25 violations from 1984 to 2021. Counted when issued, whether open or fixed since. Paperwork left out.

See every violation
Found most often since 2022
  • Fire and safety equipment 13
  • Heat and hot water 5
  • Walls and ceilings 4
Open per apartment
6.5 (39 open across 6 apartments)
Inspector last found a problem
15 Sept 2026 (visits that find nothing are not published)
What do these labels mean?
Tenant-reported
A resident's firsthand account of living here, moderated before it publishes, and labelled with whether we verified they lived there.
Official violation
A city inspector visited and recorded a code violation. HPD's own words, and its own hazard class.
Public complaint
A complaint somebody made to a city system, through HPD or 311. A report, not a finding: nobody has necessarily inspected it.
Public filing
A permit, a registration, a bedbug report: a document the owner filed with the city because the law requires it.
Court record
A Housing Court case HPD brought against the owner, or an eviction a city marshal carried out. A court's record: a case is an allegation until it ends in a finding.
Insufficient data
Not enough current information here to infer a pattern either way.

Tenant reviews

Tenant-reported

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Nothing above this section came from a tenant. It is all filed by the city, which means it only holds what somebody reported and an inspector wrote down, not what it is actually like to live here.

Not open yet. Reviews open when this neighbourhood does.

Heat season

No heat or hot-water complaints or violations were recorded here last winter (2025–26). That is the city's record: it only holds what somebody reported.

WinterDaysComplaintsViolations
2025–26000

The rules, 1 October to 31 May: from 6am to 10pm, when it is below 55°F outside, the apartment must be at least 68°F; overnight it must be at least 62°F whatever the weather. Hot water must be at least 120°F all year. A tenant without heat can report it to 311.

Rent stabilization

Public filing

The owner registered at least one rent-stabilized apartment here with the state for 2024. The list does not say which apartments, or how many.

Source: Rent Guidelines Board building list, from the state's 2024 registrations. To know about one apartment, a tenant can ask the state for its rent history through Ask HCR.

City violations

Official violation

Immediately hazardous22 open

Class C. HPD considers the condition an immediate danger: no heat in winter, no hot water, lead paint where a child lives, a broken lock on the front door. The owner has 24 hours to correct it.

  • Replace or repair the self-closing doors that is missing or defective hinges at building front entrance door, 1st story

    Issued 15 Sept 2026Notice sent out 24 Sept 2026Fire and safety equipment§ 27-2005 +3

  • Provide ready access to buildings heating system door locked at basement at boiler room

    Issued 12 Sept 2026Notice sent out 16 Sept 2026Heat and hot water§ 27-2033

  • Replace or repair the self-closing doors that is missing or defective hinges in the entrance, 4th story at west

    Issued 12 Sept 2026Notice sent out 16 Sept 2026Fire and safety equipment§ 27-2005 +3

  • Remove the illegal fastening consisting of key operated double cylinder lock installed at door at building entrance

    Issued 12 Sept 2026Notice sent out 16 Sept 2026Doors and windows§ 27-2005 +1

  • Replace or repair the self-closing doors that is missing or defective hinges on door to roof at bulkhead, 4th story

    Issued 11 Sept 2026Notice sent out 15 Sept 2026Fire and safety equipment§ 27-2005 +3

  • Replace or repair the self-closing doors that is missing or defective hinges on door at building entrance

    Issued 11 Sept 2026Notice sent out 16 Sept 2026Fire and safety equipment§ 27-2005 +3

  • Replace or repair the self-closing doors that is missing or defective door at building vestibule

    Issued 11 Sept 2026Notice sent out 16 Sept 2026Fire and safety equipment§ 27-2005 +3

  • Replace or repair the self-closing doors that is missing or defective hinges at vestibule door, 1st story

    Issued 1 Sept 2026Notice sent out 2 Sept 2026Fire and safety equipment§ 27-2005 +3

  • Provide hot water at all hot water fixtures in the entire apartment, 4th story at west

    Issued 27 Aug 2026Notice sent out 30 Aug 2026Heat and hot water§ 27-2031

  • Provide ready access to buildings heating system boiler room door locked leading to basement at boiler room, 1st story

    Issued 27 Aug 2026Notice sent out 30 Aug 2026Heat and hot water§ 27-2033

Show all 22

  • Post notice, in form approved by the department, stating the name and location of the person designated by the owner to have key to buildings heating system signage present but information missing at public hall, 1st story

    Issued 27 Aug 2026Notice sent out 30 Aug 2026Heat and hot water§ 27-2033

  • Replace or repair the self-closing doors that is missing or defective door frame at vestibule door at public hall at 1st story

    Issued 26 Aug 2026Notice sent out 30 Aug 2026Fire and safety equipment§ 27-2005 +3

  • Replace or repair the self-closing doors that is missing or defective hinges at roof bulkhead door at 4th story

    Issued 26 Aug 2026Notice sent out 30 Aug 2026Fire and safety equipment§ 27-2005 +3

  • Replace or repair the self-closing doors that is missing or defective hinges at building entrance door at 1st story

    Issued 26 Aug 2026Notice sent out 30 Aug 2026Fire and safety equipment§ 27-2005 +3

  • Replace with new the broken or defective lock on the door at the building entrance at public hall, 1st story

    Issued 8 Dec 2016Notice sent out 8 Dec 2016Doors and windows§ 27-2005

  • Fire escape defective. replace with new the broken, defective and/or missing metal tread 1st from bottom up from 3rd to 4th story balconies at east fire escape

    Issued 15 Jun 2014Not complied with 15 Sept 2014Fire and safety equipment§ 27-2005

  • Abate the nuisance consisting of uncapped steam riser at public hall, 1st story

    Issued 27 Feb 2013Not complied with 12 Mar 2013Heat and hot water§ 27-2005 +1

  • Remove the illegal fastening consisting of a key operated double cylinder lock on the entrance door to building, 1st story

    Issued 2 Feb 2013Notice sent out 3 Feb 2013Doors and windows§ 27-2005 +1

  • Abate the nuisance consisting of uncapped radiator control valve at public hall, 1st story

    Issued 2 Feb 2013Notice sent out 3 Feb 2013Heat and hot water§ 27-2005 +1

  • Abate the nuisance consisting of uncapped steam riser, at public hall, 1st story

    Issued 27 Jan 2013Not complied with 28 Feb 2013Heat and hot water§ 27-2005 +1

  • Remove the illegal fastening double key operated door lock at entrance door, at public hall, 1st story

    Issued 27 Jan 2013Not complied with 27 Feb 2013Doors and windows§ 27-2005 +1

  • Remove or cover in a manner approved by the department the peeling lead paint east wall behind cabinet kitchen 3 sty an apartment er1 22151., section '' ''

    Issued 30 Nov 1998Defect letter issued 25 Jul 2001Lead paint§ 27-2013

Hazardous15 open

Class B. A hazardous condition: a leak, mould, a defective floor. The owner has 30 days to correct it.

  • ×2Repair, replace or provide an approved and operational carbon monoxide detecting device, installed in accordance with applicable law and rules defective in the entire apartment, 4th story at west

    2 issued 27 Aug 2026 to 12 Sept 2026Notice sent outFire and safety equipment§ 27-2045 +3

  • ×2Repair, replace or provide an approved and operational smoke detecting device, installed in accordance with department of buildings rules and regulations defective in the entire apartment, 4th story at west

    2 issued 27 Aug 2026 to 12 Sept 2026Notice sent outFire and safety equipment§ 27-2045 +2

  • Properly repair with similar material the broken or defective fire retardant plaster at ceiling and north wall at public hall, 1st story

    Issued 2 Sept 2026Notice sent out 7 Sept 2026Walls and ceilings§ 27-2005

  • Properly repair with similar material the broken or defective fire retardant material at ceiling at public hall, 1st story

    Issued 27 Aug 2026Notice sent out 30 Aug 2026Walls and ceilings§ 27-2005

  • Properly repair the source and abate the evidence of a water leak at ceiling at public hall, 1st story

    Issued 27 Aug 2026Notice sent out 30 Aug 2026Leaks and plumbing§ 27-2026

  • Properly repair the broken or defective lock on the door at the building entrance, 1st story

    Issued 27 Mar 2017Notice sent out 28 Mar 2017Doors and windows§ 27-2005

  • Arrange and make self-closing the doors at the builing entrance at public hall, 1st story

    Issued 8 Dec 2016Notice sent out 8 Dec 2016Fire and safety equipment§ 27-2005 +1

  • Remove all obstructions and repair all defects in the waste line of wash basin in the bathroom, 2nd story at north

    Issued 27 Mar 2013Notice sent out 31 Mar 2013Leaks and plumbing§ 27-2026

  • Fire egress defective. remove obstructing bars or unlawful gates from window to fire escape or provide approved type gate, in the entire apartment, 2nd story at north

    Issued 2 Feb 2013Not complied with 27 Mar 2013Fire and safety equipment§ 27-2005 +1

  • Repair the broken or defective plastered surfaces and paint in a uniform color the ceiling and east wall in the kitchen, 2nd story at north

    Issued 2 Feb 2013Not complied with 27 Mar 2013Walls and ceilings§ 27-2005

Show all 15

  • Provide an approved and operational carbon monoxide detecting device, installed in accordance with applicable law and rules. in the entire apartment, 2nd story at north

    Issued 2 Feb 2013Not complied with 27 Mar 2013Fire and safety equipment§ 27-2046.1

  • Replace with new the missing electric outlet cover on the west wall in the kitchen, 2nd story at north

    Issued 2 Feb 2013Not complied with 27 Mar 2013Electrical§ 27-2005

  • Fire egress defective. remove obstructing bars or unlawful gates from window to fire escape or provide approved type gate 2nd sty north an apartment., section '' ''

    Issued 9 Mar 1984Notice sent out 10 Jun 2008Fire and safety equipment§ D26-10.01 +1

Non-hazardous2 open

Class A. The least serious band: chipped plaster, a missing cabinet, a peeling ceiling in a hallway. The owner has 90 days to correct it.

  • Paint with light colored paint to the satisfaction of this department the ceiling and north wall at public hall, 1st story

    Issued 2 Sept 2026Notice sent out 7 Sept 2026Walls and ceilings§ 27-2013

  • Paint with light colored paint to the satisfaction of this department at ceiling at public hall, 1st story

    Issued 27 Aug 2026Notice sent out 30 Aug 2026Walls and ceilings§ 27-2013

Paperwork and notices15 open

The owner failed to file something the city requires, most often the annual property registration or the annual bedbug report. Real violations, and they say something about an owner, but not a condition anyone is living in. Kept out of the count at the top of this page for that reason.

  • Post a proper notice regarding rent stabilization law, in a form approved by the commissioner, in a conspicuous location within the common area at the buildings entrance. for more information about signage requirements, please visit: https://www.nyc.gov/site/hpd/services-and-information/required-signage.page

    Issued 2 Sept 2026Notice sent out 7 Sept 2026Paperwork and notices§ 27-2104

  • ×2Post and maintain a proper notice on wall of the entrance story in english and spanish on the availability of the agencys housing information guide. a sample notice can be found at www.nyc.gov/hpd. at public hall, 1st story

    2 issued 27 Aug 2026 to 2 Sept 2026Notice sent outPaperwork and notices§ 26-1103

  • Post and maintain a proper sign on wall of entrance story showing the registration number assigned by the department and the address of the building. at public hall, 1st story

    Issued 2 Sept 2026Notice sent out 7 Sept 2026Paperwork and notices§ 27-2104

  • Post a proper notice of carbon monoxide detecting device requirements, in a form approved by commissioner, in a common area of a class a multiple dwelling near inspection certificate or provide notice to tenants in private dwellings missing

    Issued 2 Sept 2026Notice sent out 7 Sept 2026Paperwork and notices§ 27-2045 +2

  • ×2Post, in a form approved by the commissioner, and maintain a notice in a common area of the building regarding the procedures that should be followed when a gas leak is suspected at public hall, 1st story

    2 issued 27 Aug 2026 to 2 Sept 2026Notice sent outPaperwork and notices§ 27-2005

  • Post a proper notice of carbon monoxide detecting device requirements, in a form approved by commissioner, in a common area of a class a multiple dwelling near inspection certificate or provide notice to tenants in private dwellings signage missing

    Issued 27 Aug 2026Notice sent out 30 Aug 2026Paperwork and notices§ 27-2045 +2

  • ×6File annual bedbug report in accordance with hpd rule as described on the back of this notice of violation or as described on hpds website, www.nyc.gov\hpd, search bed bugs.

    6 issued 9 Apr 2021 to 5 May 2026Notice sent outPaperwork and notices

  • Owner failed to file a valid registration statement with the department as required by adm code §27-2097 and is therefore subject to civil penalties, prohibited from certifying violations, and denied the right to recover possession of premises for nonpayment of rent until a valid registration statement is filed.

    Issued 19 Nov 2025Info notice sent out 18 Nov 2025Paperwork and notices§ 27-2107

10 closed violations, plus 7 closed paperwork filings

Closed means HPD recorded the violation as corrected, or dismissed it. Both appear here, because the difference matters and only HPD’s own status line says which it was.

  • Provide hot water at all hot water fixtures in the entire apartment, 4th story at west

    Issued 11 Sept 2026Violation closed 5 Oct 2026Heat and hot water§ 27-2031

  • Fire escape defective. replace with new the broken, defective and/or missing tread at north stack 1st from bottom at fire escape, 2nd story

    Issued 15 Feb 2017Violation closed 7 Mar 2017Fire and safety equipment§ 27-2005

  • Remove the illegal fastening slide bolt with pad lock at metal gate at east yard

    Issued 15 Jun 2014Violation dismissed 5 Jul 2014Roof and outside the building§ 27-2005 +1

  • Abate the nuisance consisting of uncapped steam shut off control valve at public hall, 1st story

    Issued 12 Mar 2013Violation closed 11 Apr 2013§ 27-2005 +1

  • Repair or replace the smoke detector that is missing in the entire apartment, 2nd story at north

    Issued 2 Feb 2013Violation closed 27 Mar 2013Fire and safety equipment§ 27-2045

  • Properly repair and abate unsafe electric wiring condition consisting of exposed electrical wire on the north wall at public hall, 2nd story

    Issued 2 Feb 2013Violation closed 27 Mar 2013Electrical§ 27-2005

  • Properly repair the source and abate the evidence of a water leak above the ceiling in the bathroom, 2nd story at north

    Issued 2 Feb 2013Violation closed 27 Mar 2013Leaks and plumbing§ 27-2026

  • Properly repair the source and abate the evidence of a water leak above the ceiling and east wall in the kitchen, 2nd story at north

    Issued 2 Feb 2013Violation closed 27 Mar 2013Leaks and plumbing§ 27-2026

  • Repair the broken or defective plastered surfaces and paint in a uniform color the ceiling in the bathroom, 2nd story at north

    Issued 2 Feb 2013Violation closed 11 Feb 2013Walls and ceilings§ 27-2005

  • Replace with new the broken or defective air valve at the north radiator in the 2nd room from east, 2nd story at north

    Issued 2 Feb 2013Violation closed 11 Feb 2013Heat and hot water§ 27-2005

71 violations on record in total, 54 of them open. The count at the top of this page counts habitability violations only.

Complaints to the city

Public complaint

Complaints are reports made to the city. They are not confirmed findings. They come from HPD and from 311, and the same problem can appear more than once if more than one neighbour called.

5 complaints in three years, 4 of them in the last twelve months.

  • Heat and hot water4 / 4
  • Noise0 / 1

Last twelve months / last three years. The solid part of each bar is the last twelve months.

Court records

Court record

Housing Court cases

Cases the city’s housing department (HPD) brought against the owner, usually to force repairs or restore heat. A case is an allegation; where the court recorded an outcome, it is shown.

1 case, all closed.

  • Access Warrant - Non-Lead

    Opened 29 Oct 2014

Evictions

Residential evictions carried out by a city marshal since 2017. Most follow a case for unpaid rent, so a count here is not by itself a finding about the building or the landlord. We show how many, never which apartment.

No marshal evictions recorded at this building since 2017.

Filings

Public filing

Building permits

No permit currently in force. 2 permits filed in the last five years.

Show 2 expired or finished

  • Plumbing

    JOB FILED EXIST. COMMERCIAL BUILDING INSTALL NEW GAS COOKING EQUIPMENT PER PLAN. NO CHANGE OF USE, EGRESS OR OCCUPANCY UNDER THIS APPLICATION.

    Issued 25 Sept 2023Expired 25 Sept 2024

  • General Construction · Mechanical Systems

    JOB FILED INTERIOR RENOVATION OF COMMERCIAL STORE INCLUDING NEW COUNTER AND NEW FLOOR TILE AND NEW PAINTING, INSTALL COMMERCIAL KITCHEN HOOD AND FIRE SURPRESSION SYSTEM AS PER PLAN. NO CHANGE OF USE, EGRESS, OR OCCUPANCY UNDER THIS APPLICATION.

    Issued 21 Aug 2023Expired 21 Aug 2024

Annual bedbug report

Every multiple dwelling in New York must file this once a year. A report of zero infested units is good news. No report is not: failing to file is itself a violation.

No bedbug report on file for this building. That usually means the owner did not file one, not that there is nothing to report.

Ownership and management

Public filing

Associations come from registration records and may be incomplete. Owners register with HPD once a year, so a change of hands can go unrecorded for a full cycle.

The most recent registration on file for this address expired 31 Aug 2025 and has not been renewed since, so it is more than a full cycle old. Whoever is named below may no longer be responsible for the building.

  • Registered managing agent

    SHAO ZHENG

    Public records list SHAO ZHENG as the registered managing agent for this address as of 12 Dec 2024. Source: HPD registration.

  • Owner of record

    SHAO LIN ZHENG

    Public records list SHAO LIN ZHENG as the owner of record for this address as of 12 Dec 2024. Source: HPD registration.

Wrong company, wrong date, or a change that is not reflected here? Report a correction.

What to ask at the viewing

Drawn from this building’s record above. They are questions, not conclusions: the point is to find out, in the twenty minutes you get inside, what the public record cannot tell you.

  1. The city currently has 22 open immediately-hazardous violations on this building. Ask which apartments they concern, how many are in the one you would be renting, and when HPD re-inspects.
  2. There were 4 heat or hot-water complaints here in the last twelve months. Ask who handles heat, how quickly it is usually restored, and whether the boiler has been replaced.
  3. This building dates from 1909 and has 1 open lead-paint violation on record. If a child under six will live here, ask what testing and remediation has been done and ask for it in writing.
  4. Leaks and plumbing come up on this building's record. Ask which apartments were affected and whether the cause was ever found: 0 complaints in the last twelve months.
  5. Ask what the deposit is, exactly what can be deducted from it, and how and when it comes back.
  6. Ask who to call when something breaks, what happens after hours and at weekends, and how long a repair normally takes.

Ask for anything that matters in writing; an email after the viewing is enough. We are not your lawyer and this is not legal advice.

Questions about this building

BBL 3033990010 · Block 3399, Lot 10 · Building class S5