Neighbor's DOB Complaint

Hello all – My neighbor has filed a complaint to the DOB claiming that an illegally constructed electrical outlet in my home damaged his chimney flue on the other side of my wall; a DOB inspector has come by attempting to gain access to the house. The back story is the allegedly illegal construction occurred over eight years ago, before I purchased the house, under a prior owner against whom this neighbor had a history of filing complaints. About five years ago, my neighbor turned on his gas fireplace; toxic fumes were released into my house and the gas company ordered him to shut off the chimney. He has ever since been blaming the prior owners of my house and insisting that the only way he can look at his own chimney is by ripping open my wall, which I have told him he can’t do. So, years later, he has now filed a complaint to the DOB. My question for the community is do I need to let a DOB inspector in? I have nothing to hide in my home and strongly feel this neighbor’s comp;aints are bogus, but I am wary of letting in an inspector who may just use the opportunity to find some unrelated other issues that will be annoying and expensive.

CGDad

in Dept. of Buildings (DOB) 12 years and 10 months ago

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geekspice | 12 years and 10 months ago

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your neighbor is a jerk. but he’s not going away, and it doesn’t sound like a lot of fun to be hiding from the dob in your own home. and there’s nothing to stop him from filing another complaint in the future. so why not offer to let him open up the wall if he covers all the costs to do so? it sucks to reward jerky behaviour, but in the long run it might be less trouble for you.

mysteriousbrunette | 12 years and 10 months ago

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dob might be able to get in. They have the option of filing an “access warrant” in court.  double check

CGDad | 12 years and 10 months ago

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Yes, Totoro. That might be the situation — I don’t know as I did not own the house at the time the electrical boxes were installed, and the walls are sealed up and behind bookshelves. I have told the neighbor that if he needs to reline his chimney, he should do it from his own property.

CGDad | 12 years and 10 months ago

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There are two layers of brick between our attached brownstones. The neighbor is convinced that bricks were dislodged into the flue from my side when a standard electrical outlet was installed years ago, and that this is the reason toxic fumes escape into my house. The gas company ordered him to shut down his gas fireplace because the chimney is not up to code; I have told him that if he has a problem with his chimney lining, he needs to inspect and repair it from his own house, and that it is unreasonable for him to ask me to rip open my bedroom wall so he can visually test his theory. So, he’s trying to file complaints to the DOB. Great neighbor!

Townie | 12 years and 10 months ago

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The inspector will try to make the inspection then post a notice saying you need to make an appointment with the DOB or else.  They will try two times and then stop. Check the DOB BIS and the complaint will be closed shortly after the second failed attempt.   You share a party wall? and if your homes were built by the same developer the chimney flue may only be a single layer of brick.  If the electrician chopped out the brick to install the box he may have disturbed the clay chimney liner.   Tell him to get a stainless steel liner installed.

brokelin | 12 years and 10 months ago

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They way sound, and sometimes fireplace heat, travels between brownstone house walls, I would suspect the walls are mighty thin.

dorkofwindsor | 12 years and 10 months ago

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it will go away if you don’t answer.  your neighbor on the other hand….   i thought brownstones were made with double walls with a space in between?  which makes me wonder why your wall needs to be ripped open.  perhaps someone more expereinced could chime in.

CGDad | 12 years and 10 months ago

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So what happens to the complaint if I don’t let the DOB in?

daveinbedstuy | 12 years and 10 months ago

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No, you don’t need to let him in.