Electrical upgrades necessary when filing an Alt-1?

We are unfortunately applying for an Alt-1 to legalize an extension and build a deck. This has already been a nightmare and we haven’t even filed yet. Now the contractor is saying that we may need to do a massive rewiring of electrical to get it up to code. The house was rewired in the last 5 years and passed the inspection we had with flying colors. But is it true that the DOB will come in and demand that it meets the most current code (which changes every few years) when filing for an Alt-1? Or will they just demand this in the areas for which we are filing (the extensions)?

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in General Discussion 8 years and 4 months ago

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empathie00 | 8 years and 4 months ago

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…how much time do you have? 😉 The latest, as of yesterday, is that our certification of the only objection from our latest inspection was rejected because the photo of the metal cover we put over our sump pump hole (exchanging it for the previous wooden one, which was the inspector’s objection) in the cellar was not signed, sealed and stamped by a licensed professional installer. I emailed DOB to ask precisely what kind of professional license is required to put a piece of metal over a hole but they’ve not gotten back to me 😉

It would be funny except this is how it’s been for 6 years. Last year, the inspector failed me b/c no bucket of sand in boiler room; this year, he was about to fail me b/c I had bucket of sand in boiler room (I grabbed it and threw it outside before he marked it as an objection). And so on and so on. One inspector says “do X” so you do X, the next inspector fails you b/c you did X.

The real answer is that the whole system is built around expediters and the revolving door (and bank accounts) between expediters and the DOB. So when you as the lowly homeowner try to do anything on your own, without paying an expediter, you’re interrupting their business scheme, and they will do everything in their power to make life so difficult for you that you have no choice but to pay an expediter.

The really sad part of it all for us is that we DID pay an expediter, over $10K, and she left us halfway through, telling us to “get back to her” once we got everything cleared up on our own with no assistance from her (apparently the $10K was insufficient to meet her high standards of e-filing). So we just don’t have $$ left to pay yet another one, so we’re doing it ourselves, hence the issues above. It just sucks.

And yes, it all costs a bloody fortune. Sorry to be bearer of bad news, and I think we’ve been *especially unlucky, but good to know before you start what you could possibly be in for. I hope you’ll have it easier that we have. 🙂

WRPListings | 8 years and 4 months ago

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That’s so crazy! Why has it taken 6 years and still no C/O? How does anyone get one without redoing their entire home? You’re making me nervous now because I don’t see how we are going to bring everything in the house up to the most current code….wouldn’t that cost a fortune? What else should I be worried about besides electrical?

empathie00 | 8 years and 4 months ago

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Hi there – sorry you’re having to go through this – I feel your pain. My understanding is that with an Alt 1, the whole building is in play, so yes, the whole building needs to be brought up to code. We did a pretty extensive reno under an Alt 1, but zero changes to the boiler. C/O inspector came, looked at boiler, and POOF, >$7K later, our boiler is now up to the 2014 code, not 2008 as it had been before. FWIW, it’s 6 years later and we still don’t have the C/O. 🙁 Very much hope you’ll have more luck than we did.