Landlord Added Seven Illegal SRO Units to Cellar

DOB issued a violation notice to landlord for illegal conversion of the building by adding seven SRO units in the cellar, as well as a kitchen with a gas stove and two three-piece bathrooms in the basement. Landlord claimed that there weren't any SRO rooms in the cellar. The ALJ ruled against landlord and fined him $25,800. Landlord appealed and lost. Landlord claimed that the DOB inspector's descriptions were false, and presented photos and videotape showing different conditions. ECB found that the ALJ specifically questioned the inspector about landlord's documentation. The inspector insisted that landlord's documents didn't show the cellar as it was on the inspection date. The ALJ credited the credible testimony of the inspector, while landlord refused to produce the building super as a witness.

1234 Stratford Associates LLC: ECB App. No. 1000587 (3/24/11) [5-pg. doc.]