Insurance-inspector for Condo building says we need to redo sidewalk

Just about every owner I know is getting these notices upon the Insurance renewal. Just patch it, take a picture and they will go away until the next renewal. But do not call 311 !!? The City may well place a violation on it, then you really have an expensive issue.

resident2

in About Brooklyn 10 years and 2 months ago

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michaelsaur67 | 10 years and 2 months ago

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We recently switched insurance companies for our small Condo-building. An insurance-inspector came and found that the sidewalk on one side of the building is cracked/uneven and thus hazardous and in need of replacement. Is it customary to ask for a second, outside opinion? Would the thing to do be to ask for a 311-inspection? Or will the insurance company always stick to the first opinion by its inspector?

Arkady | 10 years and 2 months ago

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Many insurance companies have that requirement. If you have it inspected you will be told it’s a hazardous condition if there is a half inch discrepancy between any 2 surfaces or a hole that deep in poured concrete – even a depression made by a paw print. I don’t know if a ‘clean bill of health’ would change anything w/ the insurer but I doubt you’d get one anyway.

pwnnyc | 10 years and 2 months ago

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FWIW, I had same issue with my 2-family in PLG – we had some cracks, and one stone that had been uplifted by a tree root. To remedy quickly (only had 30 days to fix) I got some quick-dry cement from Home Depot and a bull-nose chisel, and spent 60 min chipping down the upheaved stone and patched all obvious cracks with the cement. Sent digital photo to my insurance company, and was approved. A PITA, no doubt, but didn’t take that long in the big scheme of things. For a longer-term fix, I’ve also (purposefully) called myself into the city to get a sidewalk citation – if you search around on this forum you will learn this is a good strategy to get the city-negotiated cement contractor rates (=good) on sidewalk replacement, but apparently this takes quite a while. I’m still waiting 🙂

daveinbedstuy | 10 years and 2 months ago

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I see a lot of edges ground down to get rid of the 1/2″+ difference too. But no, you can’t get another opinion that will satisfy the insurance company.

pwnnyc | 10 years and 2 months ago

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I should also mention that I realized afterwards that renting a concrete grinder for a day from Home Depot / Lowe’s would have been a far less labor-intensive solution vs chisel/ sledge / sweat 🙂

no-permits | 10 years and 2 months ago

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it doesn’t work like that with insurance companies. by calling 311 you’ll just yourself a violation. is there a crack on uneven part of the sidewalk or not?

snowman2 | 10 years and 2 months ago

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It doesn’t apply to condos but fyi re 1 and 2 family houses, the homeowner (and by extension the homeowner’s insurance company) is not liable for injury as a result of uneven sidewalk; the city is responsible. When I had the same issue with my insurance company I quoted the regs to them and told them it was not their business. They backed off. The homeowner is still responsible for sidewalk repair and required to respond to city citations.