Housing and Building Report in New York: The Smartest Step Before You Buy or Sell (Order at vcaretitle.com)

Find Violations, Permits, and Red Flags Before They Cost You Big

Buying or selling a property in New York? Whether it’s a brownstone in Brooklyn, a co-op in the Bronx, or a multi-family building in Queens — there’s one report that gives you a complete picture of the property’s legal, structural, and safety history:

👉 The Housing and Building Report.

Many buyers skip this and focus only on the inspection or title check. But this report is essential for spotting building code violations, permit issues, illegal construction, and other surprises that can derail your deal or blow your budget.

In this blog, you’ll learn:

• What the Housing and Building Report is

• Why it’s so important in New York

• What it includes

• Who needs it

• And how to easily order it from vcaretitle.com

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🏢 What is a Housing and Building Report?

A Housing and Building Report is an official document that gives you a detailed summary of:

• Building violations

• Open or closed permits

• Housing maintenance complaints

• Illegal construction or occupancy

• Stop-work orders

• DOB (Department of Buildings) and HPD (Housing Preservation and Development) records

Think of it as the medical history of a property — it shows what’s wrong, what was fixed, and what may come back to haunt you.

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🔍 Why Is This Report So Important in NY?

New York City has some of the most complex building and housing codes in the U.S. Buildings here are often decades (or centuries) old, and many have been renovated, divided, or converted — not always legally.

Without this report, you’re left guessing. That can lead to:

• 🚫 Fines from the city

• 🛑 Denied permits for future renovations

• ❌ Closing delays

• 💰 Unexpected repair costs

• 🧱 Unsafe living conditions for tenants or buyers

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🧾 What’s Included in a Housing and Building Report?

When you order this report from vcaretitle.com, it typically includes:

✅ Open or Closed Violations

• From the NYC Department of Buildings (DOB)

• From the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD)

• Violations for illegal work, unsafe structures, broken elevators, lack of heat, etc.

✅ Open or Expired Permits

• Electrical work, plumbing, renovations — were they legally filed and completed?

✅ Stop Work Orders

• Orders issued when construction is found to be illegal or dangerous

✅ Complaints and Inspections

• Heat complaints, water issues, tenant reports, illegal conversions, and more

✅ Certificate of Occupancy (CO) Status

• Does the building legally match its current use?

✅ Housing Code Classifications

• Class A (non-hazardous), B (hazardous), or C (immediately hazardous) violations

✅ Work Without Permit History

• Any construction or renovations done without legal permission

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👩‍💼 Who Needs This Report?

This report is a must for:

• 🏠 Homebuyers — especially for older or multi-unit buildings

• 🧑‍⚖️ Real estate attorneys — to ensure compliance before closing

• 🧑‍💼 Landlords — to fix code issues before renting or selling

• 🏢 Commercial property buyers — to confirm zoning and building use

• 🛠️ Contractors and renovators — to plan work without legal setbacks

• 🧑‍💻 Real estate agents — to offer full transparency to clients

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⚠️ What Happens If You Skip the Report?

Let’s say you’re buying a 4-family property in Queens. It looks fine on the outside. But after you close, you discover:

• There are 3 open Class C housing violations

• The DOB has an active stop-work order for illegal basement construction

• A permit for a plumbing upgrade was never closed

• Tenants are withholding rent due to safety issues

Now you’re stuck spending thousands in fines and repairs, all of which could’ve been avoided if you had gotten the Housing and Building Report ahead of time.

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🧠 Real-Life Example

An investor purchased a mixed-use building in Harlem to renovate the upstairs apartments. However, after applying for permits, the city denied the application.

Why?

The Housing and Building Report revealed:

• The previous owner built an unauthorized rooftop extension

• There was no valid Certificate of Occupancy for the commercial unit

• An open violation had been sitting for 7 years

The buyer had to pay an architect, go through multiple hearings, and spend over $20,000 just to legalize the existing structure.

All of it could’ve been flagged in a $49 report from vcaretitle.com.

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🏗️ Common Violations Found in NYC

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📥 How to Get a Housing and Building Report

You could try gathering all the data yourself by:

• Searching NYC DOB and HPD websites

• Reading through violations, complaints, permits

• Matching addresses, building identification numbers, and borough block lots (BBL)

But this can take hours, and if you miss something, it could cost you later.

✅ The faster way?

Order it online from vcaretitle.com

With vcaretitle.com, you get:

• A complete report in 1–2 business days

• Verified DOB and HPD data

• Clear summary in simple language

• Perfect for buyers, attorneys, or real estate pros

• Peace of mind before closing or investing

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📝 Final Checklist Before Closing a Deal

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🔚 Conclusion: Know What You’re Getting Into

In New York real estate, what you don’t know can cost you — big time.

Whether you’re buying a home, a rental building, or a storefront, the Housing and Building Report tells you:

• What’s legal

• What’s not

• And what needs fixing before it becomes your problem

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✅ Order Your Housing and Building Report Now at vcaretitle.com

Fast. Easy. Trusted by attorneys, homebuyers, and real estate professionals across New York.