Legal Question in Real Estate Law in New York

how to make pre existing two story garage apartment legal

My parents own a very old home.they purchased it in the late 1960s. It is located in queens ny. When they purchased the home it had a two story two car garage with an upstairs apartment complete with bathroom. It was never used. A few years ago they made rennovations and made the two garage bays on the first floor part of the apartment. My sister, her husband and two children currently reside their. My brother in law is a student and currently has no income so he has nowhere to go.We have some nasty relatives who live nearby and they decided to call the building inspector and make a complaint of an illegal apartment. The building inspector has been by twice in the last year and they received some notices to call the dept of buildings. The inspector has not been given access to the home as he has not presented a warrant. A friend who is an architect has looked into the matter. He found some documentation that indicates the building as a two stroy dwelling and he got the dept of buidlings to agree to that. They said if he can prove it was rented in the 1960s they will approve it as a legal apt. We have no proof that it was rented. Do any of you specialize in these types of situations in queens or know of someone who does?


Asked on 4/12/05, 1:59 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Robert R. Groezinger GroezingerLaw P.C.

Re: how to make pre existing two story garage apartment legal

There may be a grandfathered issue that applies. This is too lenghty, unfortunately for a reply onhere with too many questions that need to be answered even though you have provided a lot of information.

Are you in CB 2 as a matter of inquiry?

Please feel free to call me to discuss this at 212-764-5428.

RRG

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Answered on 4/12/05, 2:05 pm


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