{"id":14822,"date":"2021-10-22T13:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-10-22T17:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.renthop.com\/content-manager\/?p=14822"},"modified":"2021-10-22T13:01:34","modified_gmt":"2021-10-22T17:01:34","slug":"illegal-conversions-in-new-york-city","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.renthop.com\/blog\/illegal-conversions-in-new-york-city\/","title":{"rendered":"Illegal Conversions in New York City"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n\r\n\r\n

According to NYC’s official government website, an illegal conversion is altering an existing residential (or commercial) structure to include additional rooms, space, or units without permission from the Department of Buildings.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Altering a basement, cellar, or attic to make apartments or rentable space is considered an illegal conversion. Subdividing any other area of a house\/apartment (or\u00a0any<\/em>\u00a0building, other than its zoned purpose) is also considered an illegal conversion.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Why Are Illegal Conversions Illegal?<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Well, let’s start with the recent basement apartment drownings right here in New York, where 11 people died just last week due to flooding in these illegal conversions. The flood was\u00a0<\/em>caused by Hurricane Ida’s torrential downpour that dropped more than three inches of rain in only one hour.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

These people died because they were trapped behind an incredibly powerful wall of water, blocking their\u00a0only exit<\/em>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Many other unsafe and substandard conditions exist in many of these cases. Common issues are electrical wiring, gas and plumbing, and light or ventilation problems. These issues are why the Department of Buildings requires a safety inspection certificate for these buildings.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Vulnerable Population<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The housing demand in many New York City boroughs is greater than supply, especially for\u00a0affordable\u00a0housing<\/a>. There are many undocumented immigrants and other vulnerable, low-income residents who cannot afford or access regular housing options.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The quest to find affordable housing is how basement apartments became popular for local homeowners as an extra income source. It was a welcomed new option for the immigrant community, as well. These units are low-cost and don’t require legal documents to rent them.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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