Forum

rigasbalsam

Crown Heights, NY

Hello. I own a two family brownstone built in 1899. No C of O on record, listed as a one family building by the DOB. It's been used as a two family for a long time (since before we purchased it). At least 10 years that I know of. I purchased the house with all cash two years ago, and I'm looking to get a refi mortgage now. I have tenants in the garden level, and the place has separate electric meters, though only one gas meter. there is a separate entrance for the rental unit. I plan on doing some major reno down the road which will require plans / a real CofO. But for now, we need to satisfy the lenders looking for the C of O.
I was told to seek a Letter of No Objection from the city to treat the building as a two family.  I am assembling all required documentation for the Letter of No Objection, and have read that you can supplement the records with utility bills to prove it's being used as a two family. 
My question is what is the treshhold that the city uses to make the call that it can be granted the 2 family LNO? Is it enough that I bought the place like this, and it's been used that way for a while, and is all set up for it? Do I have to prove some really long history of utility billing for the previous tenants?
Thanks