My question involves a consumer law issue in the State of: New York
I purchased a 3 unit house in 2006 with a partially finished third floor as part of one of the 3 apartments. The space is identified on my appraisal. It is also identified on the tax assessment rolls for the municipality. I was issued a rental certificate in 2011 for that space. The rental program is run by the fire department but there is something I grabbed from their code:
§ 196-18. Intent and purpose.
The Board of Trustees has determined that there exist in the Village of XXXXXXXX serious conditions arising from the rental of dwelling units that are substandard or in violation of the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code and other codes of the Village, that are inadequate, that pose hazards to life, limb and property of residents of Village and others, that tend to promote or encourage deterioration of the housing stock of Village and that create blight. The Board finds that current Code provisions are inadequate to halt the proliferation of such conditions and that the public health, safety, welfare, and good order of the Village will be enhanced by enactment of this article.
Fast forward to 2015 when the building inspector says the finished area is not on file for a building permit for that space. They are telling me it needs to be removed. They will not issue rental certificates for the building at this time.
If they have acknowledged the space and have taxed me for it and also issued a rental certificate for the same space how can they tell me it has to come out?

