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blonde667
LIF Toddler
Member since 5/06 426 total posts
Name:
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illegal apartments?
Any one have any experience with this? My sister lives in one and it was just reported, its getting inspected this week.
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Posted 5/5/07 5:34 PM  |
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nrthshgrl
It goes fast. Pay attention.
Member since 7/05 57538 total posts
Name:
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Re: illegal apartments?
What experience are you looking for? My friend had to pull out her kitchen for when the inspector came back.
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| Posted 5/5/07 6:19 PM |
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blonde667
LIF Toddler
Member since 5/06 426 total posts
Name:
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Re: illegal apartments?
Did anything else need to come out? I'm hearing conflicting stories that you may or may not be allowed to have a bathroom in a basement...
Did the inspector ever come back and do a surprise visit after everything was put back?
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| Posted 5/5/07 6:57 PM |
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Blazesyth
*yawn*
Member since 5/05 8129 total posts
Name:
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Re: illegal apartments?
You can have a bathroom in the basement as long as you have the proper permits, etc.
Our former homeowners had to take out the kitchen, cap off all of the kitchen pipes (water, gas, etc) and make some door jams wider so that you could not readily put a premade door there, so one room could be used as a 'bedroom'.
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| Posted 5/5/07 6:59 PM |
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blonde667
LIF Toddler
Member since 5/06 426 total posts
Name:
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Re: illegal apartments?
I don't think there is a permit for the bathroom. The pulled out the kitchen appliances and sink.
I hope that is enough, I wanted to know if the inspector is real nit picky. Its not like there are 4 apartments in a little house.
Everyone is taking this inspection lightly and i'm worried that its a bigger deal than everyone thinks
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| Posted 5/5/07 7:04 PM |
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zaidam
*************
Member since 1/07 1519 total posts
Name:
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Re: illegal apartments?
It IS a big deal. One of my family members had an illegal apartment which was reported. She had to pay thousands of dollars in penalties, rip out the kitchen, etc. Each year the inspector comes to make sure that no one is living there illegally.
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| Posted 5/5/07 7:23 PM |
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smdl
I love Gary too..on a plate!
Member since 5/06 32461 total posts
Name:
me
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Re: illegal apartments?
Actually you cannot have an oven. Top burners are fine but ovens are a huge red flags.
You can have a fridge and bathroom.
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| Posted 5/5/07 7:23 PM |
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CaseyGirl
Mommy to 3 Boys :)
Member since 5/05 19978 total posts
Name:
Jen - counting my blessings...
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Re: illegal apartments?
My parents had to take out their bathroom in their basement bc they had no permit  And it wasn't even an apartment, just a finished basement in queens.
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| Posted 5/5/07 7:32 PM |
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BabyBoy
is Skylar Elizabeth
Member since 5/05 4189 total posts
Name:
Tom
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Re: illegal apartments?
i also think bedrooms in a basement is a major fire harzard due to no other exits (windows, doors) in the house...
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| Posted 5/5/07 7:41 PM |
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WhatNow
Say Cheese!
Member since 1/06 8033 total posts
Name:
A (formerly WhatNow?)
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Re: illegal apartments?
I always wonder: why would anyone report an "illegal" apartment? Why do people care?
Were they trying to "get them back" for something
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| Posted 5/5/07 7:57 PM |
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Christine
2nd verse same as the 1st
Member since 5/05 15287 total posts
Name:
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Re: illegal apartments?
One of my co-workers was living in an illegal basement apt which was reported. The landlords had to pull out the oven and something else and she had to move.
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| Posted 5/5/07 7:57 PM |
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blonde667
LIF Toddler
Member since 5/06 426 total posts
Name:
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Re: illegal apartments?
Posted by MrsSupermarket
It IS a big deal. One of my family members had an illegal apartment which was reported. She had to pay thousands of dollars in penalties, rip out the kitchen, etc. Each year the inspector comes to make sure that no one is living there illegally.
Was this in Nassau or Suffolk? Thats my fear, is that they plan to put everything back after the inspection like nothing happened. What if they come back?
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| Posted 5/5/07 8:13 PM |
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blonde667
LIF Toddler
Member since 5/06 426 total posts
Name:
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Re: illegal apartments?
Posted by WhatNow
I always wonder: why would anyone report an "illegal" apartment? Why do people care?
Were they trying to "get them back" for something
I understand why some people would report it... overcrowding, "slum lord conditions," parking, noise, etc...
But my sister is a quiet person, so are her landlords...
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| Posted 5/5/07 8:15 PM |
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Gertyrae
Peace out Homies!
Member since 5/05 20046 total posts
Name:
Gerty ®
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Re: illegal apartments?
It totally depends on where your sister lives.
I lived in an illegal apartment in N. Babylon for eight years. When my original landlord sold, the new owners of the house ticked off their next door neighbors who, in turn reported the apartment. I had to move out for three months while they went through all the paperwork, inspections and ripouts to have the basement C.O.'d as a finished basement.
The kitchen was completely removed because Babylon Town does not allow kitchens or stovetops in basements, only slopsinks and small refrigerators. They also had to install a door at the top of the inside stairs so that there were two methods of escape in case of fire. They reinstalled the kitchen after all the paperwork was taken care of and everything approved.
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| Posted 5/5/07 8:24 PM |
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blonde667
LIF Toddler
Member since 5/06 426 total posts
Name:
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Re: illegal apartments?
what does CO'd mean?
TIA
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| Posted 5/5/07 8:29 PM |
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Gertyrae
Peace out Homies!
Member since 5/05 20046 total posts
Name:
Gerty ®
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Re: illegal apartments?
Certificate of Occupancy - meaning all permits are in order and it has been inspected and is certified for use.
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| Posted 5/5/07 8:30 PM |
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MsMBV
:P
Member since 5/05 28602 total posts
Name:
Me
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Re: illegal apartments?
Posted by MrsSupermarket
It IS a big deal. One of my family members had an illegal apartment which was reported. She had to pay thousands of dollars in penalties, rip out the kitchen, etc. Each year the inspector comes to make sure that no one is living there illegally.
ITA. My old apartment was illegal. We had to move b/c the landlord had to pull out our kitchen and our laundry room (the gas lines to both were illegally done & had no permits & were not installed by a licensed plumber). What angered me is that we asked him specifically if the apartment was legal & he lied to us
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| Posted 5/5/07 8:38 PM |
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zaidam
*************
Member since 1/07 1519 total posts
Name:
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Re: illegal apartments?
Posted by MsMBV
What angered me is that we asked him specifically if the apartment was legal & he lied to us
Oh that is such BS!! I would have so angry!
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| Posted 5/5/07 8:51 PM |
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MsMBV
:P
Member since 5/05 28602 total posts
Name:
Me
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Re: illegal apartments?
Posted by MrsSupermarket
Posted by MsMBV
What angered me is that we asked him specifically if the apartment was legal & he lied to us
Oh that is such BS!! I would have so angry!
yeah I was POed. We threatened to sue & he let us live there rent-free until we found our house.
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| Posted 5/5/07 8:54 PM |
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zaidam
*************
Member since 1/07 1519 total posts
Name:
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Re: illegal apartments?
Posted by MsMBV
Posted by MrsSupermarket
Posted by MsMBV
What angered me is that we asked him specifically if the apartment was legal & he lied to us
Oh that is such BS!! I would have so angry!
yeah I was POed. We threatened to sue & he let us live there rent-free until we found our house.
That would be my dream come true! I would love to blackmail someone in order to live rent free till we can buy a house!!!! J/K
I'm glad it worked out for you guys
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| Posted 5/5/07 9:00 PM |
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lorich
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Member since 6/05 9987 total posts
Name:
Grammie says "Lora Gina"
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Re: illegal apartments?
I've lived in a few illegal apts. The LAST one was the worst...we were reported and had to move - ummm...4 mths before our wedding!
This was in Nassau where illegals are everywhere.
Needless to say when we found our next apt we made sure it was legal.
I'm not sure if he had a surprise inspection afterwards though.
Good luck! I hope things workout for your Sister.
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| Posted 5/5/07 9:47 PM |
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greenfreak
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Member since 9/06 11483 total posts
Name:
greenfreak
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Re: illegal apartments?
Posted by WhatNow
I always wonder: why would anyone report an "illegal" apartment? Why do people care?
Were they trying to "get them back" for something
I live in a legal 2-family house but I wondered this myself. Are your taxes higher when you have a legal 2-family and the owner doesn't live on the property?
Two of our current neighbors explained to us that the landlord never puts money into the house or "policed" the property and the people who lived here before us. They said since the renters didn't have a 'stake' in the neighborhood because they didn't own property or pay taxes that it showed in their behavior.
We take care of the place and are good neighbors so we're cool with them. But that only goes so far. The house could use some maintenance to the outside but he won't do it.
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| Posted 5/5/07 10:43 PM |
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06bride
LIF Toddler
Member since 1/07 422 total posts
Name:
M
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Re: illegal apartments?
This really depends on where the apartment is. I know in some towns (mine) you can rent a room in the house, but there cannot be a separate kitchen. It even says no plug in kitchen appliances. I think you can have a fridge and a sink, but anything beyond that is not allowed. It makes things very difficult in this housing market where a lot of people could live a lot easier if they made it legal to have apartments. In my town it is nearly impossible to have one regardless of what you try to do to make it legal. If I were your sister I would be pretty nervous about it. The owners will be paying a hefty fine and may not be able to keep it. Hope it works out though
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| Posted 5/6/07 12:07 AM |
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Kate07
Feel better my little guy!
Member since 5/05 4476 total posts
Name:
Kate
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Re: illegal apartments?
I think it also has to do with safety. I mean we live in what was once an attic. If this place went up in flames, we'd have no way to get out. Also, the stairs to get up here are so freaking steep and narrow. Now whether it is legal or not I don't know.
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| Posted 5/6/07 9:25 AM |
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