Finding an apartment can be difficult, especially in a big city such as New York. It can be so difficult, in fact, that many people will simply jump at the very first opportunity that presents itself and move right on in, despite the fact that the elevator does not work, the place smells like bleach, and the hallway is full of trash. The landlord will no doubt promise the moon, but sometimes that elevator may never get fixed, the bleach could be hiding a problem with mold, and who knows what is really in those trash bags?
The good news is that you do not need to hire a private detective or have psychic powers to work out whether your concerns are justified or misplaced before relocation. There are a number of resources on the internet that can be used to alleviate your worries.
One of the very best methods of finding out about a building is to make use of the Department of Building’s Building Information System, which enables you to look at any complaints that might have been filed against the building in question and any Environmental Control Board violations and Department of Building violations.
Environmental Control Board violations can be very serious and include such things as no hot water, mold, and rodent infestations, and are usually issued during visits to the site. Procedural violations are less serious and do not need to be issued during an inspector’s visit.
Jon Huser
