Susan Deng's $850,000 Brooklyn Apartment Suffers 4 Years of Severe Defects
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jul 15
Susan Deng's $850,000 Brooklyn Apartment Suffers 4 Years of Severe Defects
1 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jul 15
Summary
$850,000 bought Susan Deng a one-bedroom East Williamsburg apartment in 2021, but she says severe defects have made it barely livable for much of the past four years.
Eighteen months after moving in, a drip from the living-room ceiling turned into what she described as a gaping slit and waterfall, while floors buckled and walls cracked.
A home inspector hired before the purchase flagged only a ceiling fan, and Deng later learned from the condo board that another apartment had suffered leaks the year before.
The case underscores the risks first-time buyers can face even after inspections, especially in competitive markets fueled by low interest rates.