Contractor threatening to file DOB complaint

Hi Everyone! I’m in need of advice. I bought a condo a few months ago (in a large building) and wanted to do some work including replace the kitchen cabinets, floor, take an existing kitchen opening (half wall) and open it full, and install new lights. The contractor I hired did work in the building before and came recommended. He said none of the work I wanted to do required a permit since it was all cosmetic. He ended up delaying the job by weeks two months, so I had to extend my lease on my rental, and eventually move my stuff into storage. I terminated my contract with him, and found someone else to finish the work (all that’s left is installing the floor and kitchen cabinets). My contractor is worried I’ll sue him, and wants me to sign a mutual release of liability. He’s threatening that if I don’t sign the release he will have to notify the department of building (he says this is to avoid any liability on his part from the work of the new contractor). In hindsight, I should not have trusted him (on more than one front!) and should have done my own research. I think I probably do need a permit, at least for the electrical. I want to come clean to the DOB and get a correction, but only after the work is done since I literally have no place to live now and am staying with friends. A few questions to ya’ll: 1\. Does anyone know how long it takes for an inspector to show up at a sight once they get a complaint? 2\. I read in other posts that if you don’t let them in, they eventually just close the complaint – is this true? 3\. Could my contractor get in any trouble if he did work that required a permit without one? Thanks!!!

4lane1

in Construction 9 years and 9 months ago

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stevepower | 9 years and 9 months ago

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Hi, I don’t want to give you wrong advice but what I know is that At first you have to submit a written complaint against that contractor. Then the inspector or inspection team will evaluate your complaint. I advise you to get legal help for this issue.

germaineson73 | 9 years and 9 months ago

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Call your building department. They are decent people and deal with idiots like this all the time. The worst that would happen is you have the actual contractor pull a permit or have a licensed electrical inspect the work and you are home free. Will it cost you extra? Yes. Are you free and clear of inadequate work? Yes. Will you sleep better not worrying about fines and penalties? I bet you will. You did nothing wrong. Guys that do this to homeowners give the trade a bad name. Consult the building department, tell them the truth and ask what you should do. I am sure they will help you.

mfoswzyvuzcghpje | 9 years and 9 months ago

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I think you should have taken a permit to be on the safer side . Anyways, it was the contractor himself who had suggested that a permit is not required for the work you are doing since it is all cosmetic . So even if he files a complaint ,it is likely that it will backfire on him since being a contractor ,it was his responsibility to inform you about all the necessary permits . It was he who misguided you and thus you by suggesting that a permit need not be taken. So even if he complains to the DOB, it is he who will eventually have to take the blame . Signing a release of liability might look like a simpler option but if he has done a faulty work then you may not be able to sue him . It seems like a scare tactic. My only suggestion to you is not to worry. Clear out everything with the DOB if you feel like doing so( actually it will better if you do so) and avoid signing anything with the contractor.The clause of the release may not be what the contractor is claiming it to be. Don’t repeat the same mistake of trusting the contractor.Not letting the inspector in might complicate things further. But yes you should have at least taken permit for the electrical works. The contractor seems to be of a shifty character .Avoid signing anything with him. It might land you in further trouble.

notny | 9 years and 9 months ago

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Why would you want to sign the release? Just fear of him calling DOB? What would stop him from calling after you signed it?

resident2 | 9 years and 9 months ago

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If you want to get rid of the first contractor, just sign his release and move on & in.

daveinbedstuy | 9 years and 9 months ago

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No, you don’t have to let the DOB in and yes, if they make several attempts to see it and don’t, it will get closed out. There will be no actual VIOLATION.

bliz | 9 years and 9 months ago

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Why can’t you just sign the release and be done with it?

chjuran | 9 years and 9 months ago

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Respectfully, it sounds like you are needlessly complicating things. Focus on getting the job done. Involving the DOB now, presumably after sheetrock/painting could trigger them to ask to smash that up work to facilitate electrical inspection. Going backwards Lack of trustworthiness on your contractor’s part has not really been demonstrated in your post – delays do happen and should be expected. That said, timeliness is usually part of the contract so perhaps you have your reasons to be unsatisfied. We had similar work done and sealed off the kitchen area with plastic while we continued living there. (As long as coffee maker is in the other room, good to eat out!) So you deal with the grit and inconvenience of this optional renovation.

Augustiner | 9 years and 9 months ago

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sorry I don’t want to give you wrong advice. I don’t know if the contractor has any leverage. Basically he uses fear tactics. He has no benefit in filing complaints – but you never know what angry people are up to. You could also just sign the waiver and be done with it. Or get a lawyer to look at the situation.

4lane1 | 9 years and 9 months ago

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He wants me to sign a release, and knows that I have no where to live and a stop work order from the DOB would be a real issue for me. He’s already called the building and tried to create issues for me, but I had all the paperwork in order for the new guy already so they just ignored him.

Augustiner | 9 years and 9 months ago

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I am not quite sure why the contractor would file a complaint against himself. You have (hopefully) made a contract with him describing the scope of work and checks were made out to him. He would get in trouble himself if he performed work without permit.