Who should I call for help?

I think my neighbor is going to do major construction (new stoop, new bricks, new sidewalk) on his house. When that occurs, he will attempt to build on my side of the party wall and house. I have someone coming over on Tuesday to do a survey. Who can I call if this happens: 911/police, 311 (which department does 311 call)? Thanks.

Guest User | 7 years and 5 months ago

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Guest User | 7 years and 5 months ago

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Hi Richard – I spoke with Paul over at Menaker & Hermann 20 minutes ago and he thought it would be premature to draft a letter to the landlord. We agreed if they showed up and encroached – I would call 311 and request a DOB inspector and also call Paul back. Thanks for the suggestion.

Guest User | 7 years and 5 months ago

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I plan on calling 311 and request an inspector from the DOB to arrive asap if this happens. Thanks.

hkapstein | 7 years and 5 months ago

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Hey there. I would want to avoid a physical showdown. Clearly best practice would be to consult a lawyer. However here is something you might want to do. Go to DOB and pull a copy of the approved building plans. Compare them to the survey and determine if it will encroach. If yes complain to DOB and ask them to put the job on hold. If not, then you can file a complaint for construction beyond approved plans if they build on your property. If there are no plans, you can complain of construction without a permit. I would not want to rely on DOB to defend my property rights, but the added pressure of violations might speed up a resolution. Usually stoops and areaways are on city property, and it’s not unusual for stoops to overlap slightly in front of the neighbor’s lot, so that is something to consider.

Guest User | 7 years and 5 months ago

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Hi Richard – I will wait and see if something happens. If it does, I have a friend who is an attorney who could refer me to another attorney. Thanks for the suggestion.

decodeddreams | 7 years and 5 months ago

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It sounds like you have a contentious relationship with your neighbor. If you don’t want to deal with them directly, you can hire an attorney to write a letter expressing your concerns and acting as an intermediary. I recommend Menaker & Hermann http://www.mhjur.com/ The letter may cost you a couple hundred dollars but it will be money well spent to give you peace of mind. Best of luck!

decodeddreams | 7 years and 5 months ago

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Guest User | 7 years and 5 months ago

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I got the survey done to protect myself – that’s all. If they were to try to build on my side – I would take the survey with me court. Hopefully – they do not build on my side – so no need for a lawsuit.

daveinbedstuy | 7 years and 5 months ago

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I still don’t understand why you think he “will attempt to build on my side of the party wall and house”

Guest User | 7 years and 5 months ago

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There is 1-2 inch one from the roof in the back of the house where the addition was made in 1989 / 1990.

daveinbedstuy | 7 years and 5 months ago

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Does it show any encroachments?

Guest User | 7 years and 5 months ago

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Survey is completed.

Guest User | 7 years and 5 months ago

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I just call the customer service unit of the DOB to ask the same question. They advised to call 311 and refer my complaint to a NYC DOB inspector.

slopefarm | 7 years and 5 months ago

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I mean not just court supervision

slopefarm | 7 years and 5 months ago

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Bob – assuming the neighbor is really hostile, i think you still are better off teeing it up. First try to engage and negotiate terms of access in advance – indemnification, insurance, and, of course, agreement on where the build will be so it does not encroach on the OP’s property. Make a record of those efforts. If there is no agreement, then deny access, so that when the neighbor goes to court you have a record of how you tried to reasonably work things out. Better to have not court supervision but a court order directing the neighbor not to build on your property and to follow the survey.

Of course, the “risk” in such a strategy is you might work things out and not have to go to court.

robyim1 | 7 years and 5 months ago

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jeez.. can people improve their property without their neighbor calling 911 on them?

robyim1 | 7 years and 5 months ago

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jeez.. can people improve their property without their neighbor calling 911 on them?

RobertGMarvin

in Dept. of Buildings (DOB) 7 years and 5 months ago

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Isn’t it considered better to deny access to a hostile neighbor, force them to go to court, and have access subject to court supervision?

slopefarm | 7 years and 5 months ago

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You cannot unreasonably deny them access to your property to work on theirs. You can insist on insurance, indemnification, etc. as a condition but you do not have grounds to deny access outright to do lawful work on their property.

That is a separate question from whether they are trying to construct a trespassing structure, which you have every right to prevent, including by all the steps you are taking. . Be careful about denying access for reasonable work, as you may not be on firm footing.

Guest User | 7 years and 5 months ago

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Were past that – if they come on my property – I will try to stop them and then sue. I don’ want any part of this – just need to be prepared.

Who should I call for help?

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Who should I call for help?

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