New Landlord Responsible for Work Without Permit

DOB issued two violation notices to landlord, for replacing sprinkler heads without a permit and illegally running gas piping in the cellar boiler room and at gas meters. The ALJ ruled for landlord and dismissed the violations because prior landlord had begun the work without a permit and DOB hadn’t proven that landlord was responsible for the work. New landlord also acted reasonably by seeking an emergency permit to bring the building into compliance. DOB appealed and won. Landlord presented insufficient proof that the cited work was a preexisting condition. There was no proof that prior landlord did the work on the sprinkler heads. New landlord was, in any event, responsible for maintaining the building in a safe condition. ECB fined landlord $2,600.

18 W. 76th Street, LLC: ECB App. No. 15011341 (2/25/16) [4-pg. doc.]