Landlord Fined $61,250 for Transient Use of Apartment and Related Fire Code Violations

DOB issued a violation notice to landlord for illegally converting a five-story Class A multiple dwelling to transient use, and sought per-day penalties for the recurring condition. DOB also issued violations for failure to maintain the building in a code-compliant manner due to lack of automatic sprinklers, to provide required means of egress, and to provide a fire alarm system for a transient building. DOB’s inspector testified that he met a family that was visiting from Colorado and paying $200 per night for one apartment. The ALJ ruled for DOB and fined landlord $61,250. Landlord appealed and lost. Landlord failed to offer any credible proof to refute the violation charges. And landlord was ultimately responsible, even if tenants caused the violation. 

357 West 54 Owners Corp.: ECB App. No. 1700138 (4/20/17) [6-pg. doc.]