C of O when renovating pre-1938 houses
We’re renovating a C-of-O free brownstone, and are trying to determine the best course of action for filing with the Buildings Dept. We’re reconfiguring the house from a top-floor rental to a garden rental, and adding a deck out the back of the parlor – which seems a pretty normal thing to do. We’d like…
We’re renovating a C-of-O free brownstone, and are trying to determine the best course of action for filing with the Buildings Dept. We’re reconfiguring the house from a top-floor rental to a garden rental, and adding a deck out the back of the parlor – which seems a pretty normal thing to do. We’d like to avoid the cost and hassle of getting a C-of-O, and we’d also like to avoid installing a complete fire separation between the garden unit and the duplex, which our architect is saying would be necessary with a 2-family C-of-O. Also, does getting a new C-of-O imply a tax re-assessment (and increase?) Finance already thinks of us as a 2 family, but our assessment is pleasantly low and we don’t want to jeopardize this. Thoughts? Guidance? If any is forthcoming, I will be particularly thankful this week!
Most assessments increase annually – at least until now. Are you sure it wasn’t just your regular increase – which would be the max the law allows if you were not paying market ? If tje increase was the result of the C of O change you would have gotten bumped to market rate and you would be screaming it would be so high.
Not true re the taxes. I converted an SRO to a two family (so actually going down in number of units) and my assessment increased (though it was so low before that it was not a problem).
About 3 years ago I got a C of O for a pre 1938 house that had been used as a top floor rooming house and lower duplex. I converted it into an upper duplex with a deck off the parlor floor and a garden rental. I also (and not incidently) built a 2 story addition. Even though you don’t have a C of O, you do have a description of the house on file with the DB and I’ll bet it’s the same as mine was – a one family masonry house.
There is very little difference in the building code between a 1 and 2 family house. The “fire separation” was no more than regular walls and the original wood doors. I put up a wall with a door at the parlor level stair that goes down to the garden level so I can still get to the cellar without going through the rental. Smoke detectors in both apartments and a metal ladder to the roof just about cover it.
Although the city can technically raise your taxes as a result of the conversion, as a matter of policy they do not raise them on a 2 family. I’m not positive but I don’t think they raise them on a 3 family either but with a 3 you get into other DB issues that are a hassle.
I reposted this request for help under the C-of-O category.