Queens people

My parents live in Queens. Some rat in the neighborhood called 311 on them and a few neighbors to complain that they had a washer / dryer and a bathroom in the basement. They live in an attached house on both sides. An inspector came from the city and now they have until 11/29 to remove them!! They have no place else in the house to put the W/D! My mom is freaking out. She's lived there for 25 years and is mad that now she'll have to go to a laundromat.

Their options are to remove it and build an extension on their house on the first floor OR remove it and go to the laundromat (not gonna happen) OR remove it, have the inspection and then put it back in (risky!)

They have spoken to 2 lawyers who said they have to comply.

Has anyone ever heard of this???

Re: Queens people

there is a law that you cannot have a W/D in the basement?

I'm sure they can work around the bathroom ... get a permit or CIO?

Re: Queens people

why cant they have it in the basement?

Re: Queens people

yep, this is what they call an "illegal 2 family"

the reason it has to be removed is to prevent your parents from renting it out.

Message edited 11/4/2005 11:21:07 AM.

Re: Queens people

Don ... how does a washer and drier consitute a 2-family? Most houses have washers and driers in their basements and it is not illegal.

Message edited 11/4/2005 11:21:23 AM.

Re: Queens people

I live in Queens and have never heard of that. Everyone on my block has w/d, bathrooms, even entire kitchens in their basements.

The only thing is maybe because the houses are attached it's some kind of rule or there isn't a proper outlet for the water?

What rule/law did they break? What was the inspector's reason?

Sorry they have to deal with this

Message edited 11/4/2005 11:22:49 AM.

Re: Queens people

it's the fact that there is a bathroom down there

you can easily turn it into an apartment

Re: Queens people

well that could come out or they could try to get it legalized. I still don't understand the W/D thing, unless like someone said, because it's attached housing there is a problem.

Where can you get a copy of this "law"?

Re: Queens people

Message edited 11/4/2005 11:26:09 AM.

Re: Queens people

yeah i don't much about it

but i suspect that this is the reason it was asked to be removed

Re: Queens people

It amazes me that someone would actually call 311 on your parents to rat them out...they have nothing better to do????

Re: Queens people

I know...my parents and their neighbors are dying to know who had the nerve to do that!!

LOL about the Italians...my whole neighborhood is Italian where I grew up ..everyone had their kitchen in the basement.

I suspect that is the reason, too...about the apartment thing. It just stinks. I mean, I live in NJ and we have our W/D in the basement...but my basement is like a creepy basement LOL

Re: Queens people

what part of queens are they in

we live in howard beach and we rented an illegal apt for a year - -i know HB is cracking down now

Re: Queens people

Posted by fjbaby

It amazes me that someone would actually call 311 on your parents to rat them out...they have nothing better to do????

Re: Queens people

I just spoke to my brother about this - he's an electrcian and works with alot of other contractors in private homes - he said that it isn't illegal to have a washeer and dryer in your basement UNLESS the pipes are not set up to handle the water - it could contaminate the water to other homes on the block basically if the dirty water is not being sent out properly you stand the chance of having the water get flushed out the wrong sewer drain...it made sense he he was explaining it to me...

Re: Queens people

I live in Queens,Whitestone to be exact...never-ever heard of no W/D in the basement! We bought a new construction house and one of our options was to have the W/D in the basement,so I'm assuming its legal...although our home is not attached,maybe thats the catch? What difference does it make anyway? As for bathroom in the basement...well,that I kinda knew about..I think it could be a half bath but NOT a whole bath(with shower or tub) so that you cannot potentially rent it illegally...come on,I know X amount of ppl that rent on the sly,but thats another topic.
As for mom & dad.. they could keep the W/D in the corner for now..I think that watersupply has to be cut off..so OK,shut it for the inspection..and then return it after. Might sound wrong,might sound sneaky but thats just too bad! She's using it for her own personal use..theres no law against "storing" your machinery in the basement..I know for a fact you can have an oven in the basement,just can't be hooked-up to the gas..but it could "next to" a gasline
Please,don't let them scare you. We had a "rat" on our block last year..my parents REPLACED a 2 story deck with a more sound,beautifully structured stucco one. Same specs,just different material..they were told by all contractors that came for estimates that they did not need a building permitt from the city since this structure was already listed in the specs for their home. After it was constructed and $70 grand later..they get a summons to take it down..neddless to say,my mom had a cow..not to mention my 80 yr old VERY EUROPEAN grandma did not sleep for nights,you see...the house is half hers,so summons came in her name..we found it funny..she thought it was the end of the world and she was about to spend the rest of her days in a prison cell (wearing black of course,she's always in mourning for someone)

At the end..wanna know what happened? We went to court,paid a fine $250 they issued us a permitt. The end. If it was up to my mom & grandma,we would have jumped the gun and torn it down.
Tell them NOT to over-react,do the least you have to do legally,to pass inspection and..well you know

Re: Queens people

My suspicion is that they have a problem with the hookups. It may depend on where the wastewater from the washing machine is discharging. If there are seperate sewer systems in your area, you can't dump sanitary waste (water you use in your house) into the drainage system (which collects stormwater). They also can't be connected in anyway with the potable water service line (which is what someone else mentioned above.) It could be that all you need is a permit for the sewer connections (and gas, if it is a gas dryer). Did the building inspector say this was an option, or did he just tell them they had to get rid of it?

Message edited 11/4/2005 11:56:30 AM.

Re: Queens people

Message edited 11/4/2005 11:56:25 AM.

Re: Queens people

What?!?! I've never heard of a law that says a W/D is illegal in the basement, that's insane. Everyone has their W/D in the basement in Queens, and elsewhere too. Even the bathroom by itself doesn't constitute an illegal apt - a functioning kitchen does. Your parents are in Middle Village, right? I'd call my counselman and have him explain the law to me if I were them. That's why they're there.

Re: Queens people

ONLY if you have a functioning kitchen in the basement. and I think a full bathroom (shower/tub). I have never heard of just the washer and dryer. I would ask them what law and get specific about it. Then go to an attorney not just ask and they must comply I would def try to get as specific as possible.

As far as 311 I think they give you 3 warnings. At least they did that with noise control with our dog. and they have to give it to you in writing when they physically inspect Not just where they come and look.

1. they send you a letter
2. they come by and tell you to fix it
3. they come by and give you a summons at that point.


I believe that is how it works but you do get something in writing abou tit. If I was you I would call 311 up and just question it