I just found out my new (rental) apartment doesn't have a certificate of occupancy. What now?

I moved into a new apartment in July. My roomates and I are the first people to live there since the building was renovated following an electrical fire some time ago. There’ve been a lot of small problems that suggest the construction is not so good — the roof’s already leaking, my bedroom ceiling occasionally rains dust and dirt for no clear reason, etc. etc. Our downstairs neighbors noticed that there’s no certificate of occupancy posted for the building, and when they asked the broker who set everyone up in the place, he told them that apartment buildings with less than 6 units (ours has 4) don’t need a certificate of occupancy.  I guess I have three questions. First — the broker’s lying, right? That sounds like a totally made-up rule, and I can’t find anything online to support it. Second — how big of a deal is this? According to my downstairs neighbor, certificates of occupancy demonstrate that the building has been inspected. Since the construction on our place isn’t great, and since the building has already burned once, she is somewhat freaked out that an inspector hasn’t seen it. Is she right? And should I be as worried as she is? Third — what do I do now? What would the consequences be if I reported the landlord to whomever it is that regulates this? Could I end up homeless? Any help would be appreciated,  P.

padge

in Real Estate - Rentals 13 years and 8 months ago

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padge | 13 years and 8 months ago

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Found it — “THERE ARE NO CERTIFICATES OF OCCUPANCY ON FILE FOR THIS ADDRESS.” So, 311 I guess.

elbow | 13 years and 8 months ago

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“THIS ADDRESS IS NOT IN PROPERTY FILE–CHECK ITS OTHER ADDRESS IF ANY” The above is different from not having a C of O.  It’s not getting you into the system at all. Is there another/aka  address that might get you to a real DoB listing?

bkmatthew | 13 years and 8 months ago

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Call 311.

Putnamdenizen | 13 years and 8 months ago

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That is true, but in a case where the building was gut renovated and got permits, one would think a new c of o would have been issued.

rh | 13 years and 8 months ago

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Dude, calm down. You’re freaking out over nothing. Do you know how many buildings in this city don’t have C of O’s?

padge | 13 years and 8 months ago

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It doesn’t seem like there is — “THIS ADDRESS IS NOT IN PROPERTY FILE–CHECK ITS OTHER ADDRESS IF ANY” And they’ve definitely reconfigured layouts — it was a gut renovation. Not really sure what to do from here. If I demand that the place be inspected, can the inspectors actually do their work while there are tenants in the building?

jockdeboeraia | 13 years and 8 months ago

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I would worry that the proper fire proofing is in place, is your apt door labeled  the hour rating, is there recessed lightings in the ceiling, etc. ?  Look up the address on the DOB BIS website and see if there is a C of O.

elbow | 13 years and 8 months ago

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If the building was built prior to 1938 and the use hasn’t changed, it may not have a c of o.  Renovations to replace finishes in kind would not trigger a dob filing but if the ll changed the number of units, reconfigured layouts or that kind of thing, they should have filed for a c of o.