Flatlands residents complain of vacant house becoming a dumping ground

An abandoned home that has turned into a stop for dumping trash has become a problem for Flatlands residents.
The house, located at 4525 Flatlands Ave., is covered in graffiti from vandals, has weeds on the lawn, and is scattered with litter.
Residents of the area have seen people discarding trash and various items in the backyard, including a car.
The Department of Buildings said it received a 311 complaint a month ago that the building was abandoned and not properly maintained.
After an inspection, it concluded that the property was sealed off but the roof was damaged, therefore resulting in a violation of the house.
The Department of Buildings issued the violation and ordered the owner to show up at a hearing next month.
The real estate company that’s selling the house said that the owner is working on cleaning up the property.