Quote:
Originally Posted by Jyang427
Thanks nuts2uiam.
I have that same concern too. We are seriously debating the benefit of saving the permit cost now vs dealing with future headaches. I also read somewhere on the threads that if we submit the permits now, we will abide by today's code.TRUE The code might change in the future. We might run into more of a complication in the future.
I am just wondering how much will i spend on just permit alone. My friend spent 10k on permits and his house is in Brooklyn. I can't even imagine how big of a permit bill i will be seeing...
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As a former TNH homeowner, I can only speak with authority pertaining to the TNH and how they can and do make life a living hell if you don't have permits.
Take my case. I had been fenced in by neighbors since I purchased the house this way, now almost 20 years ago. The Hubby and I decided to put in a fence across the rear when our next door neighbor put in a new vinyl fence and we wanted it to match theirs as they were removing the same chain link that was across our back. I contracted with a fence company paid for the permit $50 plus some mathematical equation they figure for you that has something to do with so much per running foot of fencing. The total cost was just under $80. No big deal. I submitted the copy of the survey that I had obtained when we bought the house and you can imagine my shock when I got turned down because I had not obtained permits for an a/c central unit. Why not? Because we bought the house this way. I just knew it was a mistake because we were able to close and nothing was mentioned and we had a clear title insurance document.
Well surprise to us. TNH was not hearing any of it. We would not get our fence permit until the a/c was legalized. Even told us that we should not have been able to close when we did.!!!! Thus began the Odyssey of the permits. We were penalized for failure to obtain the permit in the first place so the $50 became $50 x 4 = $200
We had to hire an electrical underwriter inspector for $99 who said the disconnect was rusty and needed to be replaced and the circuit breaker had to go from a 40 amp to a 30 amp. (new codes) So I failed the inspection and had to pay a NASSAU county only licensed electrician to repair it and submit his NASSAU license number on the repair certificate that I had to fax to the Electrical Underwriter. Never mind that we had a friend who is a licensed NYC electrician that would have done the job for us for a couple of beers. Once that was done it was another $95 for the re inspection by the underwriter. The electrician was $350. The final kicker was that I had to have the work done knowing I would
not be approved because the side yard was infringed upon by 4 inches and guess what? That too required a variance which again was $200 and it was possible that after all the work was done, to bring the unit up to code, I could be turned down due to side yard infringement. I had one ace in the hole, which was my neighbors all signed letters to the effect that they had no objections to my unit. If I moved the unit to where they said it would be legal, it would be closer to the 3 contiguous neighbors' living space and they did not want that. The variance was approved and the a/c was legalized. When all was said and done, it took so long that the fence permit expired and I simply decided to skip it, after this ordeal.
The only good that came out of it was that this could have and no doubt would have, at best delayed and at worst possibly caused us to lose a contract on our house. We sold our house with all the ducks in a row but that experience cost us $1300.
My case was not isolated and I know that you have researched the permits in TNH thread here so I will again state "Get the Permits". The permit itself is not terrible, as I said in 2011 they were $50. It was the penalty that killed it. I have heard that permits in the city are expensive. They will delay you no doubt as they have to come and inspect but I strongly advise to get them.
I would also suggest that you look to TNH residents for guidance in this matter as unless you live in the town or have direct interaction with someone in such a position you simply can't speak with any authority. My one other comment is that there are a few Realtors, Elke and Tom, to name two that really do know their stuff, as they have guided many buyers and sellers through the process in many towns as Realtors. Good Luck.
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