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June 23, 2009
SRO to 3 family?
Hi, I'm looking at a building currently and SRO and would want to convert to a 3 family. The building is currently occupied but if it could be delivered vacant, and if I could get the designation changed, is there a (long) waiting period before I would be able to occupy it? And any other info on getting the classification changed would be appreciated.
Thanks
Comments
Assuming that it is delivered vacant, you could live in it right away while you wait for the certificate of no harassment, which might take up to a year. If the building is delivered vacant, make sure you get letters from each of the former tenants stating that they left the building voluntarily. Getting the tenants to leave voluntarily most often involves an exchange of money, either yours or the current owners.
Posted by: tiptoe at June 23, 2009 3:36 PM
Lots of if's to your post. See SRO info on this FAQ: http://www.nyc.gov/html/hpd/html/owners/faqs-for-res-owners.shtml#HowcanItell
As well as: http://nyc.gov/html/hpd/downloads/pdf/certification-of-no-harassment-and-exemption.pdf
Posted by: vinca at June 23, 2009 4:13 PM
As tiptoe mentioned, it is very important to get letters from former tenants stating that they left voluntarily. If they have not lived there for the previous 3 years, see if they can help you uncover the tenant history for the entire 36 month period that HPD will review.
Once you get your CofNH, you'll need the building department to approve your plans to convert the building to a 3 family. Do the necessary renovation, get the job signed off and receive your new CofO! The entire process (including getting the CofNH) could take around 2 years.
Posted by: nise17 at June 23, 2009 4:59 PM
Thanks, I just talked to the listing broker regarding vacancy and letters from the tenants to make sure I could purchase without encumbrances or legal liability. He's checking money paid to get them to leave will be at the current owners expense.
I appreciate the input.
Posted by: LiseV at June 23, 2009 5:17 PM
Make sure you do your due diligence and that the tenants are indeed leaving. Depending on how long the present tenants are there, you may still have to put an ad in a local paper in order to get the cert of non H. Usually you may be able to move right away in but there is always the issue of pulling work permits that can be tedious until you get that certificate.
Posted by: Crownlfc at June 24, 2009 2:49 AM
Will any Design/Build groups work on this process for you? If it were delivered vacant, is it really legal to move into the building as the owner? Seems like the CoNH makes it such that you have to basically have a vacant building for 3 years to really make any headway. Then again, I don't even know if the city would believe you if you told them it had been vacant for three years.
Posted by: mixicon at July 12, 2009 11:00 PM
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