Tenants at 924 Metropolitan Avenue in Williamsburg have kicked off a new rent strike this week, taping protest signs to the walls and withholding payments over what they say are chronic problems in the building. Residents describe a stubborn rat infestation alongside a broken elevator, basement flooding, leaky ceilings, and a constantly beeping fire alarm, claiming the combined issues have left parts of the property unlivable. Organizers told reporters this is the third time tenants at the address have coordinated a rent strike.
City records appear to back up many of those complaints. According to News 12 Brooklyn, the city’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) has logged 79 complaints for the building in the past two years, along with 16 open violations, while 311 data shows roughly 60 complaints so far this year. The Department of Buildings lists two open violations at the same address.
Inspections and Pest Findings
Public inspection data from property information sites shows several pest-related violations at 924 Metropolitan. HPD issued a Class C violation for “evidence of rats,” which was certified in early June, and earlier inspections noted rat droppings in at least one unit. The site auGrented, which pulls together HPD and 311 records, lists recent pest citations and related Department of Buildings complaints connected to the property.
Owner Says It Is Addressing the Problem
The building’s owner, 924 Metropolitan Avenue Realty LLC, has pushed back on the picture painted by striking tenants. The company told reporters, “We believe strongly in taking care of our tenants, and run a good, clean building,” and said it has hired a pest control firm and carried out multiple treatments. The owner also said the elevator and fire alarm have been repaired and suggested nearby construction could be fueling the rat activity, according to News 12 Brooklyn.
Tenants Demand Long-Term Repairs
Striking residents counter that they have seen only quick fixes that do not last. They are calling for integrated pest management instead of sporadic exterminator visits, permanent plumbing and boiler work, and a stop to recurring elevator breakdowns. Organizers say they also want a public repair timeline from the landlord and a clear commitment to ongoing pest prevention rather than short-term treatments.
What Withholding Rent Means Legally
Holding back rent can put tenants at risk of nonpayment cases in Housing Court, but coordinated action can sometimes lead to rent abatements or court ordered repairs if serious issues are documented. Guidance from Met Council on Housing urges tenants considering a rent strike to save the withheld money, keep detailed records of conditions and complaints, file with 311 and HPD, and seek legal advice before stopping payments. Tenants may also bring what is known as an HP action in Housing Court to ask a judge to order repairs.
For now, residents say the strike will continue until they see long-term improvements, while the owner maintains it is already working to resolve the situation. Public property records list 924 Metropolitan Avenue Realty LLC as the owner of 924 Metropolitan Avenue, according to PropertyShark.
