Consider buying a house with no certificate of occupancy?

Hi everyone,

I’m currently considering purchasing a house in Queens that was built in 1901 and is being advertised as a 2-family home. However, I’ve noticed that the property doesn’t have a certificate of occupancy, which has raised some concerns for me.

From my research, I’ve learned that some houses built before 1935 may not require a certificate of occupancy. However, this house has undergone significant renovations and it appears to have originally been a single-family home.

I’m wondering if anyone knows whether this house requires the issuance of a retroactive certificate of occupancy. I understand that an inspector or lawyer should catch any issues during the purchase process, but I want to make sure that I’m not missing any major red flags before moving forward.

Any insights or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!