Landlord Installed Washers and Dryers with Illegal Gas Connections

DOB issued violation notices to landlord when DOB’s inspector saw three new washing machines and three gas dryers in a first-floor laundry room that were installed without a permit, and with illegal gas connections. There also were no automatic sprinklers or alternative fire protection system. Landlord claimed that the washing machines and dryers existed before landlord bought the building in 2004. The 1963 Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) also allowed for a laundry room in the building cellar. The ALJ found landlord’s proof of preexisting condition insufficient and fined landlord $2,600. Landlord appealed and lost. Neither letter from landlord’s laundry room service provided nor the C of O specified that the washing machines and dryers observed by the DOB inspector were in place previously, or that the illegal flexible gas connections existed when landlord bought the building. The machines were in fact new machines.

81-31 Baxter Realty LLC: ECB App. No. 1500727 (9/25/15) [3-pg. doc.]