10/20/2015 - Town Moves Toward Suspending Certificates of Occupancy for Two Pius Rental Properties
The Town of Huntington has taken the first steps toward suspending the certificates of occupancy at two rental properties owned by a corporation controlled by Donald Pius, a major landlord in the Town whose companies control 72 rental properties.
The Town sent a notice to Catco Associates LP, a company owned by Pius, that unless the unsafe, unsanitary or dangerous conditions were removed or legalized at the properties by October 23, the Town will move at an October 27 hearing to suspend the certificates of occupancy at the addresses and revoke the rental permits.
The Town’s action followed a complaint regarding one of Pius’ rental properties and inspections at several of them.
Both of the properties are in Huntington Station. At one of the addresses, inspectors found multiple code violations, including no certificate of occupancy for habitable living space in the basement. The inspector found dressers, clothes, chairs and a couch in the basement, as well as a wall.
At the other address, inspectors found a finished basement with no certificate of occupancy, as well as electrical hazards and litter and debris. The inspectors found additional bedrooms and a bathroom in the basement that were not shown on the third party inspection report used to obtain the rental permit. The electrical hazards included exposed wires, improper wiring in outlet boxes and light switches. There also were boarded-up windows, litter and debris on the property.
To bring the properties into compliance, Catco must correct all violations and obtain a certificate of occupancy for the basements at both addresses or restore them to an unfinished state. The town will also contact the appropriate agencies to offer support for the tenants that are living in an unsafe condition and may be displaced.
Suspension of the certificates of occupancy would allow the Town to revoke the rental permits for the addresses, which were issued based on inspections by a licensed professional, as allowed by Town code, instead of by a Town inspector.
“I hope this action sends a message to all persons with rental properties that they must comply with Town codes, or face revocation of their rental permits,” Supervisor Frank P. Petrone said. “Those regulations apply whether a landlord owns one property, or several.”
“We recently revised Town Code to help ensure that properties offered for rental in the Town are safe and meet building code standards,” said Councilwoman Tracey Edwards, who sponsored the revisions. ”This action serves notice that the Town intends to enforce all the provisions of the new code to ensure tenant safety.”
“Absentee landlords have a responsibility for the living conditions of the properties they rent,” Councilwoman Susan A. Berland said. “Failure to maintain the properties according to Town Code is detrimental to the tenants, their neighbors and the community as a whole. Landlords who neglect their properties should not be allowed to continue earning income from unsafe structures.”