Landlord Fined Over $54,000 for Converting One Apartment to Six SROs

DOB issued notices concerning nine violations to landlord, based on converting a residence for occupancy for more than the legally approved number of families, failing to maintain the building in a code-compliant manner, and failing to provide a fire alarm system. DOB claimed that there were illegal SRO units in a fifth-floor apartment at the building. The building also lacked the required number of means of egress for every floor and lacked a required sprinkler system.  At a hearing, landlord disputed some of the findings by DOB's inspector. The ALJ ruled against landlord, upheld all of the violations, and imposed substantial fines.

Landlord appealed and won, in part. The Certificate of Occupancy authorized one apartment on the building's fifth floor. DOB found six SRO units there, with individual door locks within the dwelling unit. DOB's inspector also found personal effects in the locked rooms and interviewed tenants. But ECB did dismiss the per-day penalties imposed by the ALJ, given the correction date of the violations. And the charge for transient occupancies was dismissed because it wasn't proven. The total civil penalty was reduced to $54,375.

DOB v. Allianz Realty Holding Corp.: ECB App. No. 2101546 (12/16/21)[6-pg. document]