Landlord Added Illegal SRO Units to One-Family House

DOB issued a violation notice to landlord for illegally altering a one-family house. DOB's inspector found locks on the doors of second-floor rooms and toiletries in the bedrooms instead of in the bathroom. Landlord claimed that family members lived in these rooms but had no explanation for the locks and toiletries. The ALJ ruled against landlord and fined her $4,600. Landlord appealed to ECB and lost. Landlord now claimed that the doors were locked to keep her young child out of other family members' rooms, but she didn't raise this before the ALJ and her explanation was insufficient.

Chen: ECB App. No. 41752 (3/26/09) [3-pg. doc.]