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Q&A
Lack of automatic follow-up for expired TCOs
0:10:59
·
110 sec
Council Member Ariola expresses concern about the lack of automatic follow-up for expired Temporary Certificates of Occupancy (TCOs), while Constadino Sirakis explains the various mechanisms that encourage TCO renewal.
- Ariola points out that without complaints or owner action, expired TCOs may go unnoticed
- Sirakis confirms that this can happen, but notes other factors push owners to renew TCOs
- External factors like tenant requirements, property sales, and other agency licensing processes often necessitate TCO renewal
- Sirakis emphasizes that an expired TCO doesn't necessarily indicate an immediate safety issue
Joann Ariola
0:10:59
So if a if a temporary CFO has expired and no one calls 311 to report that or or no one from or or the building owner doesn't up reply for a renewal, then you don't have any mechanism in place to then go out.
0:11:20
It could continue to be open with just a temporary c of o, which has expired.
Constadino (Gus) Sirakis
0:11:25
That that's correct.
0:11:26
That does happen.
0:11:27
I think there are other mechanisms that push the certificate of occupancy into the forefront and push owners to renew their certificate of occupancy.
0:11:38
For instance, if you are looking to rent to tenants, they will ask for a certificate of occupancy, which pushes the the owner of the building to renew sales of the property, lending, other agency licensure process.
0:11:55
So for instance, the Department of Health, if you're looking for childcare, will always be asking for a CFO.
0:12:01
The state liquor authority asks not only for a certificate of occupancy, but also then a letter of no objection from the Department of Buildings that the use is actually permissible in that space.
0:12:13
So it's in the owner's best interest for other reasons beyond just the the buildings department wants it from that standpoint.
0:12:21
And I think it represents beyond the safety of the construction, the CFO itself also represents the other legal rights that come with the property, the other legal authority there.
0:12:33
So by itself, it's not necessarily a safety issue that the TCO has expired.
0:12:41
Kinda gotta look at the whole big picture of that from that standpoint of what are safety concerns that come come with the building in and of itself.