Landlord Fined $22,000 for Adding Illegal Basement Apartments

DOB issued violation notices to landlord in January 2015 for illegally altering a two-family dwelling by adding two apartments to the cellar. Landlord claimed that it had filed a limited alteration application to correct the violation. The application was approved by DOB on Sept. 12, 2014, and DOB signed off on Sept. 15. The ALJ ruled for landlord in part, and stopped the per-day penalties effective Sept. 15, 2014. The total fine was $22,000. Landlord appealed and lost. Landlord claimed that the per-day penalties should have ended sooner. ECB ruled against landlord and upheld the penalties.

Ahmed: ECB App. No. 1500311 (5/28/15) [3-pg. doc.]