4 Family to 1 Family C O O Advice
We’ve owned our legal 4 Family house since the 90’s but have never had tenants and have always used it as a Single Family. Over the years we’ve removed 3 bathrooms and 3 kitchens without filing. They were the cheapest and flimsiest reno’s by the past owner. We’ve kept one kitchen and a bathroom for our use on the 3rd Floor. We still have 4 electric meters and recently replaced the boiler (filed by contractor) and have one gas meter for the whole house. We’d like to refinance as a Single Family now and do some long overdo major restoration-renovation work. What is the most expeditious and least costly way of legalizing the work that’s been done (if it needs to be) and getting our C of O to match its current use as a Single Family?
AsherBenjamin
in Conversion 13 years ago
5
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5 replies
brucef | 13 years ago
One thing to bear in mind that many of the actual renovation costs are not subject to the building permit fees. Trades will be, and structural, but not fixtures and finishes. Studs yes, maybe drywall, but not tape, prep, paint, plaster. No kitchen cabinetry, bathroom fixtures or tile, appliances etc. This may be less than you fear.
newhouse | 13 years ago
We’re at the tail end of a renovation that involved changing the C of O from a 3 family to a 1 family. The previous owner had renovated the home to a 2 family house without filing. While the work may have been up to code at the time the renovation was done (even if it wasn’t filed), it is no longer up to code by the standards of the new 2008 code. When we changed the C of O for our house, we had to update the whole house to comply. My understanding is that the new code, including the energy calculation is much stricter. So keep in mind that if you change the C of O, you may have to do updates beyond the work already done to bring it up to code. The good news is that unlike a 3 family or 4 family house, you can get rid of your sprinklers or fire escapes!
dazednconfused2 | 13 years ago
You’ll have to file a cost affidavit with the DOB (standard for any job), and on this indicate a dollar amount for each work type. You will enter an approximate cost just as if you were contracting it out for new work. This is the only place the DOB has any notification of costs.
AsherBenjamin | 13 years ago
Thanks Jim. That’s useful information. I suppose the next step in this process is to consult with an architect and file the old work as new work. Is it a flag if there were no actual costs involved? I did the all of the demo myself including capping water and waste lines; Brooklyn Union (Keyspan) removed the gas meters and tied off service upon request at no charge, etc.
dazednconfused2 | 13 years ago
If the last official record of the house is as a four family, then the only way to legally onvert it is to file as if you were doing the conversion from four to one as part of one current application. The work that’s been done, would be filed as new work. Once the plans are reviewed and approved, and the rest of the work is done and signed off, you will have a fully-compliant one-family. Approached this way, it is relatively simple and straight forward. Jim Hill, RA, LEED AP
Urban Pioneering Architecture