Questions (probably too many-sorry). Background below for a non-regulated apt in 4 unit place with a lease that ends next year:
Can I be present as I am told by 311 during a renovation?
Who is responsible for my belongings (this is his apparent concern) when the construction crew is there? Who is responsible for opening the door for the crew? Can he give the crew a key?
Does he have to give specific hours for construction?
I have already moved all my belongings to one side of the apartment (the rooms that were always dry - whole apartment appears dry to me now). I offered to move it all back to the other half once renovation is complete with his desire to renovate the entire apartment. He finds this unacceptable. I think I am being very accommodating.
Is there an official way to proceed with a relocation? I do not want to just take his word.
Can a city inspector be called to assess if ALL the floors need to be replaced? (He has not fully said this. He simply wants to replace all floors. I'd like a second opinion.) He also has not declared the apartment inhabitable. It is just inconvenient for it to have a tenant.
Do you need a permit for an emergency renovation or for later cosmetic repair following emergency?
The history:
Toilet hose broke at the plastic nut (LL liability) and flooded half the floors of apartment with 1/4 in of water. Landlord immediate vacuumed water and put in dehumidifiers. I removed all furniture and personal items from the floor of these two rooms (back office/bedroom and kitchen).
Landlord called to tell me to "find another apartment" as he wants to replace all floors "so they match" and "maybe are damaged" as well as replace bathroom and kitchen cabinets which are 6 inches off of the ground. I replied that I would contact NYC Housing Authority and discuss support and ways to proceed. He next texted on Sunday night that he would be "ripping up the floor and such" on Monday morning at 8:30. And that I would have to leave (this is four days later.) I told him that would be in violation of housing laws in NYC.
I opened door for him monday morning and accepted without complaint or without permits that he would be tearing up the floors. I called 311 and a housing lawyer both of whom told me that I had the right to stay and that if the landlord didn't want me there he would have to support relocation and storage. Aware of this, he had the floor ripped up to the subfloor. (It is dry in my opinion, but I am of course not an expert.) Insurance adjuster also visited along with the construction crew.