A House Without a C of O
I wanted to buy a place that it doesn’t have a co. originally it’s a 1 family. guy converted it to 2 family. but doesn’t have a co. What are the potential problems of buying it?
I wanted to buy a place that it doesn’t have a co. originally it’s a 1 family. guy converted it to 2 family. but doesn’t have a co.
What are the potential problems of buying it?
so did it get denied?
this what the dob site says.
Department of Finance Building Classification: B3-2 FAMILY DWELLING
NUMBER TYPE FILE DATE
LNO 5030 LETTER OF NO OBJECTION 04/30/2010
LNO Use: DENIED 2 FAMILY
LNO Floor: DWELLING
Comments: FILE ALTERATION APPLICATION
P&D 1416 PLUMBING & DRAINAGE 07/25/1928
PRS 595 PLUMBING REPAIR SLIP 02/20/1957
there should be no real problems with buying it other than you might not get 2 family financing for it. If the deed says 1 family your bank might only give you financing for a 1 family. but that’s a better rate anyway.
It does not matter how the department of finance classifies it if it’s a fairly standard row house and has no C/O most likely it was built as a one family. but you can check the old DOB records to verify–sanborn maps and the icard.
you said its been “converted” to a two family, but really it sounds like any work on the building was done under an Alt 2 status with the dob which does not allow you to change the C/O.
you’ll need an architect to do drawings and a good expeditor to navigate the DOB to change a c/o. honestly, its a pain in the ass…but not impossible.
the following is a concern:
“guy converted it to 2”
based on that statement if it was not signed off if it was filed you may need to start all over again unless if converted prior to 1938.
Check for an i-card, that will tell you if it is a legal 2 family. If not, and you want to pull a permit for work, then it will need to be dealt with.
Check the Dept of Finance records to see how they have it classified.
Built before 1938, no C of O is not really an issue.
Depends upon what you want to do with it.
If you’re not planning on making any real changes, then essentially nothing.
If you’re planning on a renovation, then you’ll need to straighten it out either before you renovate or during the reno. To obtain the C of O, you’ll need to make sure that the building meets the current code.
It’s VERY common to find houses with no C of O, especially if they were built before the 30’s or so.
Jim Hill, RA, LEED AP
Urban Pioneering Architecture