Query reg. landlord/NYC Department of Buildings (apartments, renting)

[bellam_avakaya]

Hello from a long time lurker, first time poster.



I have lived in NYC since 2010 in the same UWS Studio Apartment that I have been renting since my student days at CUNY. I am getting married soon (sep'19) and hence started looking for a 1 bedroom also in the UWS. The Apt I found, is in a prime location and within my budget( I also meet all the landlord requirements) I was curious about the building itself and did my preliminary research on the DOB site where I encountered this:



"PARTIAL VACATE REMAINS ON REAR APARTMENTS ONLY DUE TO IN ADEQUATE 2ND MEANS OF EGRESS. FRONT APARTMENTS ARE SAFE TO BE OCCUPIED, EGRESS IS ADEQUATE."


Turns out the building had a fire two years ago which effected all the units, so the whole building had to be gut renovated.


But the Apts. in the rear; the one the broker showed me and I planned on applying for; are not yet cleared for occupancy. The broker did not bring this up - (the fire + the still active partial vacate order). I really love the place and need your advice here.
What happens if I move into a unit which has a partial vacate order against it?
I am assuming If a DOB inspector on a future date, after our move-in, slaps a no-entry order on the unit, we will be screwed?
The unit is available June 15, 2019..I am assuming the landlord stated this date because he is confident they will get this 'partial vacate' quashed by then?
I haven't confronted the landlord/agent with this new information yet..in fact I haven't submitted any paperwork(even though I had all of it with me at the time of viewing) because something felt off when the broker did not try to pursue a hard sell for such prime apt.
I really loved the apt. and want to know what to do...any advice you can give me would be very very helpful.

[SeventhFloor]

Originally Posted by bellam_avakaya

Hello from a long time lurker, first time poster.



I have lived in NYC since 2010 in the same UWS Studio Apartment that I have been renting since my student days at CUNY. I am getting married soon (sep'19) and hence started looking for a 1 bedroom also in the UWS. The Apt I found, is in a prime location and within my budget( I also meet all the landlord requirements) I was curious about the building itself and did my preliminary research on the DOB site where I encountered this:



"PARTIAL VACATE REMAINS ON REAR APARTMENTS ONLY DUE TO IN ADEQUATE 2ND MEANS OF EGRESS. FRONT APARTMENTS ARE SAFE TO BE OCCUPIED, EGRESS IS ADEQUATE."


Turns out the building had a fire two years ago which effected all the units, so the whole building had to be gut renovated.


But the Apts. in the rear; the one the broker showed me and I planned on applying for; are not yet cleared for occupancy. The broker did not bring this up - (the fire + the still active partial vacate order). I really love the place and need your advice here.
What happens if I move into a unit which has a partial vacate order against it?
I am assuming If a DOB inspector on a future date, after our move-in, slaps a no-entry order on the unit, we will be screwed?
The unit is available June 15, 2019..I am assuming the landlord stated this date because he is confident they will get this 'partial vacate' quashed by then?
I haven't confronted the landlord/agent with this new information yet..in fact I haven't submitted any paperwork(even though I had all of it with me at the time of viewing) because something felt off when the broker did not try to pursue a hard sell for such prime apt.
I really loved the apt. and want to know what to do...any advice you can give me would be very very helpful.

Go to the Construction Division of Buildings Department, ask them how to get a copy of the vacate order, and when you get the copy of the vacate order, see if your apartment is listed on it. Bring like $20, you'll have to pay for it and I'm not sure how much it is. You can even try giving the Construction Division a call too, the contact numbers are listed on their website.

[bellam_avakaya]

thank you. I will follow your prescribed course of action.