Golden Proposes Tougher Penalties For Illegal Home Conversions

Senator Martin Golden is looking to crack down on illegal home conversions.

Any serious injuries that occur in or around a home that has been subdivided illegally could result in the owner of the home being slapped with a felony, according to legislation proposed by the senator Friday. In addition, anyone who subdivides a residence without the proper permits could be fined up to $1,000 or be imprisoned for up to 30 days.

The bill arrives in the wake of an influx in illegal home conversions impacting Golden’s district. Despite efforts of the New York City Buildings Department (DOB) to stop illegal conversions, properties are being altered without permits through the city, resulting in fire-code violations, posing risks to residents as well as neighbors.

One of the most horrific examples of this occurred in 2010, when a fire ripped through an illegally converted home in Bensonhurst, killing five and injuring a 3-month-old baby. It took firefighters three times as long to break down the walls and get to the bodies due to the illegal apartments, according to reports.

Golden says his objective is to improve public safety by increasing penalties for those who fail to obtain proper permits for construction.

“The issue of illegal conversions has been part of the conversation in our neighborhood for many years, but over the past couple of years, this problem has escalated at a pace never seen before,” said Golden “These illegal conversions are endangering those living in these conditions, our emergency service workers and destroying our quality of life.”

Golden also referenced the growing problem of overcrowding at local schools.

“Our schools are significantly above capacity and these illegal conversions have put a burden on our city resources. I look forward to working with my colleagues in city and state government to bring about stricter laws in an effort to end this problem,” he said.