Landlord Responsible for Tenant's Illegal Conversion of Apartment to SRO Unit

DOB issued violation notices to landlord for illegally altering the second floor of a two-family dwelling into three SRO units. DOB’s inspector found partitions, locked doors, personal items, and food in each of the rooms. At a hearing, landlord claimed that he rented the apartment to one tenant, who allowed four other friends to live there. Landlord claimed that he didn’t know about the partitions, although he lived on the first floor of the building. The ALJ found landlord responsible for the condition and fined him $23,400. Landlord appealed and lost. Landlord was responsible for the condition even if caused by tenant. And the per-day penalties imposed were proper.

Paucar: ECB App. No. 1500705 (9/25/15) [1-pg. doc.]