12 Bills to comprehensively reform the DOB and put an end to Construction-as-Harassment (A Legislative Platform to Reform DOB)
Effective Date: December 30, 2017
Summary: This law requires the Department of Buildings to audit 25% of professionally certified applications for rent-regulated buildings, affordable housing projects or multiple dwellings which are the subject of a rent overcharge application and which are at least 25% occupied, on a monthly basis. This law also prohibits professional certified applications where buildings are listed on the Department of Housing Preservation and Development’s website as having been subject to a finding of harassment.
Effective Date: December 30, 2017
Summary: This law requires that on issuance of a vacate order Department of Buildings must include the date by which an owner must certify the correction of any and all violations giving rise to such order.
Effective Date: December 30, 2017
Summary: This law creates a task force consisting of members appointed by the New York City Department of Buildings, the Department of Housing Preservation and Development, the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the Department of Environmental Protection, the City Council, and the Mayor.
The task force will evaluate current practices of agencies represented in the task force regarding construction and renovation by landlords in occupied residential buildings, publish a report of its findings, and provide recommendations to improve inter-agency coordination and sharing of information.
Effective Date: Section One Takes Effect On May 1, 2019. Section Two Takes Effect Immediately.
Summary: Section 1 of this law expands the definition of “distressed buildings” eligible for a City initiated foreclosure proceeding to include buildings which are subject to Environmental Control Board (ECB) judgments as a result of building code violations in the amount of a lien to value ratio equal to or greater than 25%.
Section 2 of this law requires the Department of Finance to report on tax lien activities as a result of ECB debt, including the number of buildings subject to tax liens for ECB judgment debts, the location of the buildings, the number of dwelling units in each building, and recommendations for whether a 25 percent lien to value ratio is an appropriate threshold for property to be considered distressed.
Effective Date: December 30, 2017
Summary: This law expands the City’s ability to impose tax liens on buildings to include properties that contain 20 or more dwelling units where the total value of all such judgments against the building is $60,000 or more, or a building which contains between 6 and 19 dwelling units, where the value of the judgments is $30,000 or more. The law contains exceptions for the Department of Housing Preservation and Development’s preservation projects.
Effective Date: December 30, 2017
Summary: This law amends the information that must be included in tenant protection plans (TPP) and prescribes measures that the Department of Buildings (DOB) and owners must take in order to ensure compliance with the tenant protection plan. It requires the landlord state what essential services will be interrupted, how interruptions will be minimized, what replacements will be offered. The TPP must be posted at the building, available on request, and published on the DOB website. DOB will inspect for compliance with the plan. DOB will perform randomized inspections of 5% of all sites requiring a plan.
Summary: The Department of Buildings (DOB) will compile and maintain a watch list of contractors who have been found to have performed work without a required permit in the preceding two years. DOB will engage in increased oversight of any worksite where a contractor included on the watch list performs work. Listed contractors may be removed 2 years after they were placed on the list, or 2 years after the last time the performed work without a permit, whichever is more recent.
Effective Date: December 30, 2017
Summary: The current cost for filing a work permit with Department of Buildings is as follows:
- Alt 1: Minimum Filing Fee = $280
- Alt 2: Minimum Filing Fee = $225
- Alt 3: Minimum Filing Fee = $195
- Limited Alteration Application = $195
- Minimum filing fee is applied for work costing up to $3,000; $20 for each additional thousand dollars up to $4,000; plus $10.30 for each thousand in excess of $5,000.
The law increases fines for work without a permit for filings using the above method of calculation and multiplying it by 6x the fee for one and two family dwellings, and 21x for all other buildings.
Effective Date: February 30, 2018
Summary: Any person who fails to comply with a stop work order shall be liable for a civil penalty in the amount of $6,000 for the initial violation and $12,000 for every subsequent violation.
Effective Date: August 30, 2018
Summary: Department of Buildings (DOB) website will state whether the premises subject to the construction work permit are occupied. Where unpermitted work has been performed within the last year, DOB will conduct full examinations of construction and related documents (DOB’s website will list of these buildings). DOB permits will identify any, and the number, of occupied units, subject to work. This bill includes enhanced civil penalties for work without a permit. DOB may impose inspection fees on buildings that have unpermitted work violations.
Effective Date: December 30, 2017
Summary: Modifies the Housing Maintenance Code to require landlords post a “Safe Construction Bill of Rights” in the lobby and hallways of each floor of a building undergoing construction (not constituting minor alterations or ordinary repairs) for which a permit is needed. Each posting must be encased in plastic to protect from exposure. The Bill of Rights must describe in English, Spanish, and any other language the agency specifies:
- Type of work and where work will take place
- Hours of construction
- Projected timeline of completion of work
- Services to be interrupted during work and how owner will minimize interruption
- Contact information for agent of owner who can be reached 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and state agencies where complaints may be submitted
- Tenant Protection Plan
Failure to comply with the requirements of this bill constitutes a Class C immediately hazardous violation of the Housing Maintenance Code. Either Department of Buildings or Housing Preservation and Development may enforce this provision.
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