Change from 1 Family to 2 Family
We’re thinking of purchasing a brownstone in Park Slope and, after lurking here, I feel so much better educated about the whole process. I do, though, still have a few questions and I’m hoping some of you may be able to provide some guidance. Several of the properties we are considering are either 1 family…
We’re thinking of purchasing a brownstone in Park Slope and, after lurking here, I feel so much better educated about the whole process. I do, though, still have a few questions and I’m hoping some of you may be able to provide some guidance. Several of the properties we are considering are either 1 family homes or are “currently being used as a 2 family” or “currently being used as a 1 family with a professional office/tenant on the garden level.” We need a two family house, though we won’t be formally renting the garden level (there will be family living there). How difficult/costly (from a permit perspective, not a renovation perspective) is it to change from any of the above to a legal 2 family residence? If we are not formally renting the garden level apartment do we need to legally change to a 2 family (all the work will be done above board and permitted)?
Wow! Many thanks to all of you for the helpful posts. We will not be formally renting the garden apartment and it sounds like that can potentially make the process much easier as we really don’t care what the C of O says, but just want to have an extra kitchen downstairs (why didn’t I think of that?!). It’s nice to have ballpark figures and suggestions going in to this process – the whole thing is a bit overwhelming.
I’m considering doing something similar, but have no experience with all this. Sorry for my naive question, but what is an “expeditor”?
It seems to me that this person files paper on behalf of others. If so, what value does this intermediary bring to the process? I mean, at ~$10K a pop if I can bypass him/her I’d be happy.
If anyone can cast some light on this I’d most grateful.
If the existing work was done to code for a 1 family, it is not a nightmare to make it a 2 family. My house did not have a C of O, it had a description dating to when it was built. The changes I had to make for the 2 family C of O was to replace a wood roof ladder with a steel roof ladder.
If you’re not formally renting it, why bother. It must be doable to have a second kitchen in a legal one – Orthodox Jews in Brooklyn very often have Passover kitchens in the basement.
It’s unlikely there is no C of O for the residence. It is perhaps not available on the web but one can be requested from the DOB (and should be regardless prior to purchase).
If you do in fact need need to do a C of O change assume the following:
-Expeditor filing charges of about $12,000.
-Cost of making changes that relate to making the changes to a C of O (bathrooms, kitchens etc).
-Since this process will involve a DOB inspection, you may be asked to bring any non compliant issue up to code (ie boilers venting for bathroom etc)
-Lastly, a C of O change can trigger a property tax increase.
If there is no C of O then you’re not changing it. You are doing work as defined by the DOB however, and there are special requirements for having a second kitchen approved in a house. You’ll have to hire an architect to file it.
If you’re not “formally renting” (sounds like you have in-laws on board) what difference can it make what the CO says?
Thanks. There is no existing C of O in place. Sounds like it may be quite a headache, though.
To change from 1fam to 2fam (or vice versa) requires a new C of O, assuming there is an existing c of o. Nightmare. Expensive. An architect can advise in more detail.