$23,000 In Fines Issued To Spring Valley Landlord

The Rockland County Office of Buildings and Codes (OBC) is issuing a $23,000 fine to Schloima Koppel, the same landlord housing 31 people in a New City single-family property, resulting from 32 violations found at Koppel’s Spring Valley rental at 8 W. Funston Street.

The inspection uncovered 8 bedrooms and 16 beds, in what should be a 3-bedroom home. Inspectors are still trying to determine how many people are living in the property as the investigation found 3 people sharing one of the beds in the home.  In addition to overcrowding, violations found include blocked egresses, electrical hazards, illegal conversions, and missing smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Per OBC’s standard administrative process, the landlord has 30 days to remedy and request reinspection.

The County Office of Buildings and Codes (OBC) assumed control of the Village of Spring Valley Building Department as ordered by New York State Department of State (NYSDOS) effective February 14, 2022.

Under New York State law, 3-family homes and above, commercial, and places of assembly are subject to mandatory inspections and fall under OBC’s jurisdiction which this property does not and why the County of Rockland urges people to submit complaints of unsafe housing.  Single and two-family homes, which the property involved is classified as, are not subject to required inspections under New York State law but OBC inspectors obtained a search warrant to enter and inspect the property for safety concerns and overcrowding, which was discovered, following dangerous levels of overcrowding found at the landlords Town of Clarkstown property.

“Building and Fire Codes were designed to protect the welfare and safety of residents, visitors, and first responders and it is inhumane of landlords to put profit above people,” said County Executive Day. “I want our residents to know that we understand and share your frustration. Illegal housing is becoming a major problem in this County. The sad reality is enforcement is only a Band-Aid and not solving the true cause of this issue that is getting increasingly worse if our State and Federal elected officials continue to ignore the tens of thousands of migrants being moved across the country illegally, into properties not complying with safety standards.”