Posted on: March 05, 2019 11:20 AM

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Mayor signed into law to legalize basements in East New York

Today, Mayor di Blasio signed into law through a pilot program to legalize basement units starting with East New York, Brooklyn.

This is due to affordable housing crisis in NYC. Under the pilot program with taxpayers budget of around $7 million dollars, working with selected non-profit groups, the city will work with Dept of Building, Dept of Housing and Dept of City Planning.

The codes from fire to other laws to make basements habitable and legal will start this summer in East New York. Also low income landlords can apply for loans to convert their basements into legal apartments in cooperation with Dept of Housing.

The current law is single or two family homes cannot rent a basement apartment without certificate of occupancy. As long as half of the basement height is above the curb, the city will issue such certificates to convert into multi-dwelling in NYC.

The other option according to building dept is as long as there is no gas lines or stoves without shower fixture in the bathroom is considered legal basement that can allow people to stay.

To apply for the pilot program, here is the link, https://www1.nyc.gov/?/development?/basement-conversion.page