Landlord Fined for Renting Separate Rooms in One Unit

DOB issued four violation notices to landlord concerning work without a permit in an apartment building, occupancy contrary to the building's Certificate of Occupancy (C of O), and failure to comply with prior orders requiring landlord to file a certificate of correction. At a hearing, landlord claimed that the third and fourth floors were combined as one dwelling unit. But DOB's inspector interviewed tenants there who rented separate rooms and paid landlord separately as SRO tenants. The inspector also found stove and sink connections made without permits. The ALJ sustained the violations. Landlord appealed and won, in part. ECB upheld the ALJ's finding of occupancy contrary to the C of O. But DOB didn't prove that the installation of a new kitchen sink and stove required a permit since it didn't prove that new connections were installed to complete that work. Landlord was fined a total of $3,125.

DOB v. Zhang: ECB App. No. 1901343 (10/24/19) [3-pg. doc.]