Landlord Added Illegal SRO Units to Four-Family Building

DOB issued violation notices to landlord for illegally altering a four-family residence to a residence for occupancy by more than the legally approved number of families. DOB's inspector saw two illegal SRO units in the basement, one SRO on the first floor, and two SROs on the second floor. He described the rooms as having beds, clocks, TVs, computer stations, toiletries, personal effects, and locked doors. All the SROs in the basement shared a common bathroom and kitchen. There were similar arrangements on the first and second floors. Landlord claimed that he rented apartments only to two tenants and presented copies of the leases and rent checks. The ALJ didn't believe landlord and fined him $1,600 plus per-day penalties, for a total of $12,850. Landlord appealed and lost. Despite the leases, the DOB inspector saw the additional SRO units, and landlord presented no proof that the occupants of each floor lived in a common household.

Heller: ECB App. Nos. 47379, 47380 (10/29/09) [4-pg. doc.]