Building Staircase Leaning Out of Plumb

DOB issued a violation notice to landlord for failing to maintain its building in a code-compliant manner. DOB's inspector reported that the staircase from the fourth floor to the roof was leaning out of plumb. The stringer, which supports stair treads and risers, was separating from the wall. Stringers weren't attached to the headers. There were cracks in walls and ceilings in the hallways, and in the wall and ceiling of a fourth-floor apartment. All stairs and platforms were leaning out of plumb. Landlord argued that it had discovered and begun repairs on the condition before the violation was issued. The ALJ ruled against landlord and fined it $1,000. Landlord appealed and lost. Building Code Section 28-301.1 required landlord to keep its building in a safe and code-compliant manner. Landlord's engineer was at the building to assess the condition 13 days before the violation was issued. But there was no documentation that landlord had begun actual repairs by that time. 

David Ellis Real Estate, LP: ECB App. No. 1200476 (8/29/13) [3-pg. doc.]