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Queens people

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CaseyGirl
Mommy to 3 Boys :)

Member since 5/05

19978 total posts

Name:
Jen - counting my blessings...

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!! Chat Icon Chat Icon 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???

Posted 11/4/05 11:13 AM
 
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Elbee
Zanzibar

Member since 5/05

10767 total posts

Name:
Me

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?

Posted 11/4/05 11:16 AM
 

MrsR
My love.

Member since 5/05

6247 total posts

Name:
Jennifer

Re: Queens people

why cant they have it in the basement?

Posted 11/4/05 11:16 AM
 

QuoteTheRaven424
22 Months?!!!!

Member since 5/05

13659 total posts

Name:
And If That Isn't A True Blue Miracle

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.

Posted 11/4/05 11:19 AM
 

Elbee
Zanzibar

Member since 5/05

10767 total posts

Name:
Me

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.

Posted 11/4/05 11:21 AM
 

Donna
1 year already!!

Member since 5/05

3360 total posts

Name:
Donna

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 Chat Icon Chat Icon Chat Icon

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

Posted 11/4/05 11:21 AM
 

QuoteTheRaven424
22 Months?!!!!

Member since 5/05

13659 total posts

Name:
And If That Isn't A True Blue Miracle

Re: Queens people

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

you can easily turn it into an apartment

Posted 11/4/05 11:21 AM
 

Elbee
Zanzibar

Member since 5/05

10767 total posts

Name:
Me

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"?

Posted 11/4/05 11:24 AM
 

Donna
1 year already!!

Member since 5/05

3360 total posts

Name:
Donna

Re: Queens people

Posted by CaptainCharisma424

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

you can easily turn it into an apartment



but there has to be something else to this, most Italians have their entire kitchens, bathrooms in their basements, they almost live down there

eta - no disrespect to Italians, just everyone I know that is 1st or 2nd generation Italian has this and it's single family homes

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

Posted 11/4/05 11:24 AM
 

QuoteTheRaven424
22 Months?!!!!

Member since 5/05

13659 total posts

Name:
And If That Isn't A True Blue Miracle

Re: Queens people

yeah i don't much about it

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

Posted 11/4/05 11:25 AM
 

Jenziba
?

Member since 5/05

6265 total posts

Name:
Jennifer

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????

Chat Icon Chat Icon Chat Icon Chat Icon

Posted 11/4/05 11:25 AM
 

CaseyGirl
Mommy to 3 Boys :)

Member since 5/05

19978 total posts

Name:
Jen - counting my blessings...

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

Posted 11/4/05 11:27 AM
 

QuoteTheRaven424
22 Months?!!!!

Member since 5/05

13659 total posts

Name:
And If That Isn't A True Blue Miracle

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

Posted 11/4/05 11:32 AM
 

DjPiLL

Member since 5/05

3664 total posts

Name:
Richard

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????

Chat Icon Chat Icon Chat Icon Chat Icon





Don't screw around with 311. They mean business.

I called 311 to complain about my co-op. I had a leak in my walls and ceiling from all the rain we got. They ware sending an inspector out to check it out next week.


Why don't they put the W/D on a different floor?

Posted 11/4/05 11:38 AM
 

BriBri2u
L'amore vince sempre

Member since 5/05

9320 total posts

Name:
Mrs. B

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...Chat Icon

Posted 11/4/05 11:43 AM
 

andri
LIF Infant

Member since 11/05

241 total posts

Name:

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 Chat Icon
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 Chat Icon

Posted 11/4/05 11:48 AM
 

dpli
Daylight savings :)

Member since 5/05

13973 total posts

Name:
D

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.

Posted 11/4/05 11:55 AM
 

CaseyGirl
Mommy to 3 Boys :)

Member since 5/05

19978 total posts

Name:
Jen - counting my blessings...

Re: Queens people

Posted by CaptainCharisma424

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



they are in Middle Village

ETA: Andri - what an awful situation! Chat Icon

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

Posted 11/4/05 11:55 AM
 

Leeners
:)

Member since 5/05

4898 total posts

Name:
Eileen

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.

Posted 11/4/05 11:58 AM
 

TAD
LIF Adult

Member since 5/05

1199 total posts

Name:
Terri

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

Posted 11/4/05 12:19 PM
 
 

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