|
|
|
|
|
Hello, all,
Some time ago I asked a question here about obtaining a Certificate of
Occupancy for work previously done, and got some great advice. Thanks
to all the warnings here, we decided to pass on that house and found
another one, and again, legal questions arise. This time the issues
are more specific, and again, I am asking for your advice.
This second house has an extra kitchen which was built in the
ex-laundry area. Thus, I assume that the plumbing is legal there (or
could I be wrong?) This kitchen has a gas stove, and the owners claim
that this stove was put in during the house construction time, and thus
it is legal. But the owners are very old, and I'm looking to verify
this info. I've several concerns as to how to go about this.
Please, excuse me if my questions are silly or naive.
Concern #1: How would I verify the legal status of the second kitchen?
This house is in the Town of Hempstead (Nassau, NY). Were would I
go/call to determine if this kitchen has a C of O? Where could I
obtain original floor plans? What happens if the original floor plans
do not show the second kitchen, but it was actually put in by the
builder per owner's request? Was the builder required to submit new
floor plans? I mean, is there any chance that the floor plans on
record don't have the second kitchen, but it was, in fact, legal? Who
inspects the house upon completion, and would we get the results of
this inspection?
Concern #2: If this kitchen does NOT have a C of O, I'll request
that the owners legalize it. Is there a chance that it could be
denied?
Concern #3. If, for some reason, the owners are not able to obtain a
C. of O, our real estate agent has suggested that we replace the gas
stove with an electric stove, and call the kitchen "a wet bar", which
does not require a C. of O. She says that a kitchen isn't classified
as a kitchen if it does not have gas. And since the plumbing is most
likely legal (ex laundry area), we could just remove the gas. Is this
true? I'm not sure I believe this claim...
Concern #4. If what the real estate agent is suggesting is true (i.e.
we can replace the stove with an electic stove and avoid a C. of O for
a "wet bar"), how far do we have to go to remove the gas line? Is it
suffcient to just shut it off, or do we have to tear the walls down and
remove it on the inside?
Concern #5 (related to concern #1). Since the original laundry area is
now a second kitchen, there is a new laundry area in the house. Again,
the owners claim that it was built at construction time, and thus the
plumbing there is legal. How would I find that out... I do not need a
C. of O for the laundry... Do I just need to check whether permits were
obtained? Or is there some other document that will tell me whether
the new laundry area is legal.
Thank you so much again for your help!!!
Elana
|
|
|
|
Certificate of Occupancy, Part II
