Former Owners Accountability

I purchased a 2 family home. The posting and the former owners listed it as a 9 bedroom. Fast forward 2 years and we had issues with the DOB saying that three of our bedrooms are illegal and now we can’t use the bedrooms we originally thought we had. The bank even appraised our home as a 9 bedroom. My question– can I sue the former owners for the price difference in what is supposed to be rather than what we paid based on false information?

brooklyn718

in General Discussion 6 years and 10 months ago

26

Please log in, in order to post replies!

26 replies

Newest Oldest

slopefarm | 6 years and 10 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4918 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#5117 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(3) "655"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(9) "slopefarm"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$BK7dzbqXJe9TV6iU0glcNZiXdOt9CR1"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(9) "slopefarm"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(18) "jrubin@law.nyc.gov"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(24) "/forums/users/slopefarm/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 14:11:42"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(9) "slopefarm"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(655)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

Well, the professionals you hire to make sure of these things before you close have a professional responsibility to you to do their jobs properly. that said, a malpractice claim is very difficult to make out in this area.

mozeeatupu | 6 years and 10 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4917 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#5132 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(6) "176749"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(10) "mozeeatupu"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$BHO3bQekVGtCrXmPMzpkzkalt5eAQl/"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(10) "mozeeatupu"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(17) "grandzu@yahoo.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(25) "/forums/users/mozeeatupu/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 14:25:47"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(10) "mozeeatupu"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(176749)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

Your house, your responsibility

empathie00 | 6 years and 10 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#5133 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4919 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(6) "177582"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(10) "empathie00"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$B39XlbF3Z/GXxRzNgW/yrLZdITT1/R."
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(10) "empathie00"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(21) "empatrick@hotmail.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(25) "/forums/users/empathie00/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 14:17:48"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(10) "empathie00"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(177582)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

We had something of a similar issue – consulted an attorney who basically said it was our responsibility (along with the inspector, title co and our RE lawyer) to verify everything was up to snuff and therefore our fault we didn’t uncover the issues before purchase – so nothing could be done except, possibly to sue our RE lawyer. I contacted the RE lawyer re: the issue just to see what he’d say and his response was, I kid not: “I dare you to sue me.” I also have a friend in a much worse position who ended up spending 100k+ to rectify a C/O issue that wasn’t uncovered during their purchase process, they also had no recourse. Buyer beware… which is so tough to hear *after you’ve bought. 🙁 Sorry. 🙁

slopefarm | 6 years and 10 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4918 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4922 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(3) "655"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(9) "slopefarm"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$BK7dzbqXJe9TV6iU0glcNZiXdOt9CR1"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(9) "slopefarm"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(18) "jrubin@law.nyc.gov"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(24) "/forums/users/slopefarm/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 14:11:42"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(9) "slopefarm"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(655)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

Did you have the home inspected before you purchased? Hard to see how you have a claim against the seller. The types of things that make a bedroom not legally a bedroom should be evident to someone knowledgeable.

Guest User | 6 years and 10 months ago

string(1) "3"
string(6) "195579"

The answer to “can i sue” is always yes. The question of whether it’s in your best interest is a whole different ball of wax. Whether the seller knowingly misrepresented the usability of the 3 bedrooms would be challenging to prove, especially with the bank assessment and presumably a home inspection not identifying any issues. i’m guessing the litigation might cost you more in the long run than what you would hope to gain from the lawsuit.

EJR | 6 years and 10 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#5127 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#5128 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(5) "79362"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(3) "EJR"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$B.h6vu7ImM77fV6j0TvRwlieo3mAr4/"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(3) "ejr"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(19) "ejrothman@gmail.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(46) "http://bstoner.wpengine.com/forums/users/ejr2/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 14:30:58"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(3) "EJR"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(79362)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

The answer to your question can only be correctly answer after review of your purchase agreement. My guess is that except for specifically enumerated issues, the house was sold as-is with no continuing liability to the Seller. Perhaps if you can prove fraud you would have some recourse, but my guess is that the Seller was representing the home in the manner in which they used it, particularly since your bank appraised it as such and you would not be able to establish fraud, which is a high bar to clear. Your home inspector should have uncovered the issues leading to the “illegal” nature of these bedrooms assuming they were identified without opening walls, etc. My guess is that these rooms either (i) are below grade, (ii) lack closets or (iii) lack windows/egress, or some combination thereof. Whether or not they are “legal” bedrooms also does not mean that you personally cannot use them as such, it just means that you cannot rent them out.