Building Illegally Altered from Two to Four Apartments

DOB issued two violation notices to landlord for illegally altering a two-family house. The building's Certificate of Occupancy called for the first floor to be used for a garage, laundry, recreation room, and storage, and the cellar to be used for a boiler room and storage. DOB's inspector found a full bathroom, living room, bedroom, and kitchen with a refrigerator, stove, and sink in the cellar. On the first floor, he saw a bedroom, full bathroom, living room, and kitchen with a stove and sink. The violation notices also described work without a permit. Landlord claimed that the changes were made before he bought the building 30 years earlier. The ALJ ruled against landlord and fined him $29,000. Landlord appealed and lost. Photos taken by DOB's inspector showed alterations made more recently than 30 years ago. Inspection also clearly showed that landlord had converted the two-family house by adding two illegal apartments.

Tsimis: ECB App. No. 1100555 (9/22/11) [3-pg. doc.]