{"id":598,"date":"2016-08-21T16:49:41","date_gmt":"2016-08-21T20:49:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.renthop.com\/content-manager\/?post_type=qa&p=598"},"modified":"2024-09-19T16:05:18","modified_gmt":"2024-09-19T20:05:18","slug":"what-makes-an-apartment-illegal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.renthop.com\/blog\/what-makes-an-apartment-illegal\/","title":{"rendered":"What makes an apartment illegal?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Not all New York City apartments<\/a> are legal. New York City zones buildings as residential or commercial, and laws dictate bedroom size, heat, gas, water, and sanitation specifications. An illegal rental property poses a safety risk for prospective tenants, neighbors, and the local community. Prospective residents looking to rent an apartment should familiarize themselves with the signs of an illegal apartment to ensure a safe rental experience.<\/p>\n

Illegal Apartments in New York City<\/h2>\n

Each local government may have its own qualifications for legal and illegal apartments. In New York City, building owners cannot use a part of their building beyond its specified use. For example, commercially zoned units cannot be rented as residential spaces. Cellars, commonly found in single-family homes, are not zoned as residential dwellings and, therefore, are illegal to rent. Some basements<\/a> can be legal apartments, but renters should exercise caution to determine the unit\u2019s legality.<\/p>\n

There are some tell-tale signs of an illegal apartment. If the electricity comes from extension cords or your door locks with a padlock, the landlord is likely collecting illegal rental income.<\/p>\n

All buildings built after April 1929 have a certificate of occupancy, which denotes the building\u2019s permitted use and how many apartments it can have on each floor. Renters can ask for a certificate of occupancy or find one online if they are suspicious of the apartment.<\/p>\n

Potential Signs of an Illegal Apartment<\/h2>\n

There are some standard ways renters can tell if a unit is illegal. Those touring apartments may come across the following signs of an illegal apartment:<\/p>\n