You’ve got a buyer interested in your property. There’s one problem: open violations from the DOB or HPD sit on your building record. Does this kill the deal?
Not necessarily. Thousands of NYC properties change hands each year, with unresolved violations still attached. But selling with violations means you’ll face disclosure requirements, financing hurdles, and price negotiations that clean properties never encounter.
The path forward depends on the violation type, buyer sophistication, and how you structure the deal. Some violations stop sales cold. Others become negotiating points. The difference matters when you’re trying to close without leaving money on the table.
Here’s what you need to know about selling NYC property with open violations:
- Whether you can legally sell a property with active violations (and when you can’t)
- How different violation types affect your sales timeline and buyer pool
- Three practical options for structuring deals when violations exist
- Mandatory disclosure requirements that protect you from future liability
- What buyers evaluate during due diligence on properties with code issues
Let’s break down exactly how violations affect your ability to sell and what you can do about them.
Selling Property With Violations Is Legal, With Exceptions
New York property law doesn’t prohibit you from selling a building with open violations. Property owners can list the property, accept offers, and move forward with a sale while violations remain unresolved on their record. Selling NYC property with violations is a common transaction type that happens thousands of times annually across the five boroughs.
But legality and practicality are split into different categories. Some violations create legal barriers that prevent you from completing a sale until you clear them. Others simply complicate the transaction without stopping it outright. Your real estate agent can guide you through which violations require immediate attention versus which ones become negotiation points during the sale process.
When You Can Proceed With a Sale
Most violation types allow you to move forward with a property sale. The law requires full disclosure, but it doesn’t mandate resolution before closing.
Violations that don’t block sales include:
- Non-hazardous DOB violations for cosmetic issues, missing permits for completed work, or minor code infractions
- HPD housing maintenance violations for peeling paint, broken fixtures, or apartment condition issues
- ECB environmental violations related to signage, waste disposal, or zoning compliance
- FDNY fire safety violations for extinguisher maintenance, exit lighting, or inspection lapses
You retain the right to sell “as-is” with these violations disclosed. Buyers who purchase investment properties or fixer-uppers often accept buildings with violation histories. They factor repair costs into their offers and handle resolution after closing.
The transaction structure matters more than the violation itself. You can negotiate credits at closing for the buyer to cover resolution costs. Some buyers prefer this approach because it gives them control over contractor selection and repair timelines. Your asking price should account for outstanding violations and estimated resolution costs to attract serious offers.
Lenders complicate this picture. Banks frequently refuse to finance properties with certain violation types, even when the sale itself is legal. Your buyer pool shrinks to cash purchasers or sophisticated investors who can secure alternative financing. Potential deal breakers often emerge during the financing stage rather than during initial negotiations.
When Sales Get Blocked or Restricted
Specific violation categories create legal obstacles that prevent you from closing a sale until you resolve them. These aren’t suggestions or best practices. They’re hard stops mandated by local regulations and NYC building codes. Open violations block sale NYC transactions when they fall into hazardous categories or create title defects.
Class C immediately hazardous violations halt sales completely. Buildings with no heat, no hot water, lead paint hazards, rodent infestations, or structural failures that endanger occupants cannot legally transfer ownership until you fix the underlying issues and clear the violations. The local building department requires certification that repairs meet code before allowing ownership transfer.
The DOB issues stop-work orders for serious construction violations. You cannot sell a property with an active stop-work order unless you resolve the violation first. The order attaches to the property, not the owner, which means it follows the building through any attempted sale. Properties with open permits from incomplete construction projects face similar restrictions until contractors complete work and pass final inspection.
Liens and outstanding fines create title issues. ECB environmental violations, unpaid DEP water charges, and DOF tax liens prevent you from delivering a clear title at closing. Title companies won’t insure properties with these encumbrances, and attorneys won’t allow their clients to proceed. Failure to address these violations can result in legal repercussions, including delayed closings or contract cancellations.
| Violation Type | Sale Impact | Resolution Required |
| Class C Hazardous (no heat/water) | Sale blocked | Must fix before closing |
| Active Stop-Work Orders | Cannot transfer title | Must lift the order first |
| ECB/DOF Liens | Title defects | Must pay or resolve |
| Non-hazardous Code Issues | Sale proceeds | Disclosure required only |
Some buildings fall into HPD’s Alternative Enforcement Program or Third Party Transfer Program. Properties in these programs face additional restrictions. The city can force a sale to approved buyers who commit to resolving violations, removing your ability to select purchasers freely.
You need to pull your complete violation history before listing. Buildings often carry violations that owners don’t know about. Work that wasn’t properly inspected or projects where contractors failed to obtain permits show up as violations during buyer due diligence. A surprise Class C violation discovered during buyer due diligence can destroy a deal at the last minute.
Violation Severity Determines Who Buys and How Fast

Not all violations carry the same weight in a transaction. A missing certificate of occupancy creates different challenges than an active rodent infestation. The violation type directly shapes your buyer pool and controls how long you’ll spend getting to closing. Understanding how NYC property violations affect value is a crucial step in pricing your property competitively.
Buyers segment themselves based on risk tolerance and financing capability. Cash investors who specialize in distressed properties move quickly on buildings with serious violations. Conventional buyers backed by traditional mortgages walk away from the same properties. Your violation profile determines which group you’re selling to. Clear communication about violation status helps prospective buyers evaluate whether your property matches their investment criteria.
Class C Immediately Hazardous Violations (No Heat, Hot Water, Lead Paint, Structural Issues)
- Force you to stop marketing until you resolve the underlying problems and clear the violation, making it nearly impossible to sell a house with these active citations
- Eliminate all traditional buyers who need mortgage financing, since many lenders automatically reject properties with hazardous conditions
- Reduce your buyer pool to cash purchasers willing to take on immediate repair obligations and potential liabilities
- Extend your timeline by 30-90 days minimum while you arrange repairs and inspections, making the process extremely time-consuming
- Require HPD or DOB reinspection to certify resolution before you can proceed with closing, often involving a licensed professional to sign off on completed work
- Often trigger additional violations during the repair process, creating cascading delays that negatively impact your ability to close on schedule
Active Stop-Work Orders from DOB
- Prevent any sale until you lift the order by correcting the violation or obtaining proper permits. Open building violations of this type create absolute barriers
- Attract only buyers experienced with DOB processes and violation resolution who understand legal action consequences
- Add 60-120 days to your timeline, depending on violation complexity and DOB backlog
- Require engineering reports, architect certifications, or structural assessments before resolution
- Lock out buyers who need immediate occupancy or quick closing timelines, creating significant buyer hesitation
- Create uncertainty that kills deals when buyers can’t predict resolution costs accurately
HPD Housing Maintenance Code Violations (Class A and B)
- Allow sales to proceed, but reduce offers by estimated repair costs plus a risk premium that affects the home’s appraised value
- Keep most buyers in play if violations are minor and well-documented, supporting faster sales when handled transparently
- Add 15-30 days for buyer due diligence and contractor estimates
- Become deal-breakers when violations are in the dozens or span multiple units
- Require detailed disclosure packages that buyers scrutinize for hidden issues. The requirement to disclose violations in NYC sales is non-negotiable
- Affects multi-family buildings more severely than single-family properties
ECB Environmental Control Board Violations
- Generate fines that compound daily, creating growing liabilities that buyers factor into offers
- Permit sales to continue, but create title issues if fines convert to liens
- Attract buyers who negotiate aggressively, using unpaid fines as leverage
- Require payment at or before closing to satisfy title insurance requirements
- Add minimal timeline delays if you pay fines promptly, but months if you contest citations
- Include issues like illegal signage, improper waste disposal, or zoning violations
FDNY Fire Safety and Prevention Violations
- Create insurance obstacles that eliminate buyers who can’t secure property coverage
- Allow sales to conventional buyers if violations involve minor equipment or inspection lapses
- Extend timelines when violations require sprinkler installations or major fire suppression upgrades
- Get resolved relatively quickly for simple issues like missing extinguishers or blocked exits
- Become major obstacles for commercial properties, where fire safety directly affects occupancy certificates
- Require FDNY reinspection and sign-off before banks will approve mortgage financing
DEP Environmental Protection Violations
- Block sales when unpaid water bills or sewer charges create liens on the property
- Require immediate payment to clear title, adding closing costs, buyers demand you cover
- Include backflow prevention, cross-connection issues, or illegal water system modifications
- Attract only buyers with experience handling environmental remediation when contamination is involved
- Extend timelines significantly if soil or groundwater testing becomes necessary
- Limit financing options when lenders discover environmental concerns during due diligence
DOB Unpermitted Work or Certificate of Occupancy Issues
- Shrink your buyer pool to investors comfortable with legalization processes for renovation work completed without authorization
- Add 90-180 days when you need to file permits retroactively and obtain approvals, deciding to clear violations before closing becomes the faster path
- Eliminate buyers seeking conforming properties for traditional financing
- Require architect or engineer involvement to certify code compliance, adding $5,000-$25,000 in costs to obtain necessary permits
- Create appraisal problems when the square footage or unit count doesn’t match official records
- Become especially problematic for conversions, additions, or finished basements without permits, particularly common in new construction projects where contractors cut corners
The violation mix on your property matters more than individual citations. A building with 20 minor HPD violations closes faster than one with a single Class C hazardous condition. Buyers evaluate the total compliance picture, not isolated issues.
How Buyers Structure Purchases Around Existing Violations
Buyers face three strategic paths when considering a property with open violations. Each approach shifts risk, cost, and control differently between you and the seller. Your choice depends on violation severity, your financial situation, and how much you trust the seller to handle repairs properly.
The structure you select affects your purchase price, closing timeline, and post-closing obligations. Cash buyers have more flexibility than financed purchasers. Investors evaluate these options differently from owner-occupants. Your strategy needs to match both the violation type and your operational capabilities.
Require Seller Resolution Before Closing
You can demand that the seller clear all violations before you agree to close on the property. This approach gives you maximum protection and eliminates post-purchase surprises.
When this structure makes sense:
- You’re using traditional mortgage financing that won’t approve loans on properties with certain violations
- The violations involve hazardous conditions you can’t legally occupy until someone resolves them
- You lack experience managing contractors or handling DOB/HPD compliance processes
- The seller has stronger relationships with local contractors who can resolve issues faster
- You need to occupy the property immediately after closing without repair delays
Key negotiation points you control:
- Set specific deadlines for violation clearance with penalties if the seller misses them
- Require the seller to provide proof of resolution through official DOB or HPD reinspection certificates
- Build contingencies into your purchase agreement that let you walk away if violations aren’t cleared
- Demand that the seller cover all costs for repairs, permits, inspections, and filing fees
- Request regular updates and documentation showing repair progress toward resolution
The seller bears all financial risk and timeline uncertainty with this structure. You close on a clean property with no outstanding compliance issues. Your title insurance proceeds without exception, and your lender approves financing without violation-related conditions.
This approach extends your closing timeline significantly. Sellers need 30-180 days to resolve violations, depending on severity and agency backlog. You might lose the property if another buyer offers a faster path to closing.
Purchase As-Is With Adjusted Pricing
You can buy the property in its current condition with all violations intact. The seller provides full disclosure but takes no responsibility for resolution. You handle everything after closing.
When this structure works for buyers:
- You’re paying cash and don’t need lender approval, so violations would complicate
- You have in-house staff or reliable contractors who can manage violation resolution efficiently
- You’re acquiring the property as part of a larger portfolio where economies of scale reduce resolution costs
- The violations are minor and won’t prevent you from generating rental income or occupying the property
- You want to control the repair process, contractor selection, and resolution timeline yourself
Price adjustments you should negotiate:
- Deduct estimated repair costs based on contractor quotes you obtain during due diligence
- Add a risk premium of 15-30% above repair estimates to cover unforeseen complications
- Factor in lost rental income if violations prevent you from leasing units until resolution
- Account for permit fees, inspection costs, and professional services like engineers or architects
- Include compensation for your time managing the resolution process and agency interactions
| Cost Category | Typical Range | Your Due Diligence Action |
| Direct Repair Costs | Contractor estimates | Get 3 written quotes |
| Risk Premium | 15-30% of repairs | Add buffer for surprises |
| Permit/Filing Fees | $500-$5,000+ | Check DOB fee schedules |
| Professional Services | $2,500-$15,000 | Price architects/engineers |
| Lost Income Period | Monthly rent × months | Project resolution timeline |
You assume all risk with this structure. Violations might cost more to resolve than you estimated. Agencies might uncover additional code issues during inspections. Your financing sources might change their terms if violations worsen.
As-is purchases give you the fastest path to closing. Sellers accept lower prices in exchange for certainty and speed. You build equity immediately if you resolve violations efficiently and under budget.
Negotiate Closing Credits for Post-Purchase Resolution
You can close on the property with violations intact, but negotiate a credit from the seller to cover your resolution costs. The seller reduces the purchase price or provides cash at closing that you use for repairs.
When credits make sense for buyers:
- You need to close quickly, but can’t wait for the seller to resolve violations first
- You want control over contractor selection and repair quality, but need financial assistance
- Your lender will approve the loan if you can demonstrate sufficient funds to resolve violations post-closing
- The violations are well-documented with clear resolution paths and predictable costs
- You’re experienced with NYC building codes and confident in your cost estimates
Credit structures you can negotiate:
- Fixed credit amount based on contractor estimates plus a modest buffer for overruns
- Holdback in escrow, where closing proceeds get held until you prove violation resolution
- Price reduction that lowers your purchase price by the estimated resolution cost
- Seller financing for repair costs with repayment tied to violation clearance milestones
- Hybrid approach with partial credit at closing and additional funds if costs exceed estimates
You need detailed documentation to support your credit request. Get written contractor quotes, permit cost estimates from DOB, and inspection fee schedules from relevant agencies. Sellers resist credits without hard numbers backing their claims.
Credits give you flexibility without extending your closing timeline. You can prioritize which violations to resolve first based on occupancy needs or income generation. Sellers often prefer credits to handling repairs themselves because it removes their post-closing obligations.
The risk sits somewhere between seller resolution and as-is purchases. You control the process, but depend on your credit being sufficient to cover actual costs. Violations that seemed straightforward during due diligence sometimes reveal more expensive underlying issues once contractors start work.
Disclosure Rules You Must Follow to Avoid Legal Trouble

New York law requires you to disclose known violations before closing. This isn’t optional or subject to negotiation. You must provide buyers with accurate information about your property’s violation history and current compliance status.
Failing to disclose violations opens you to lawsuits after closing. Buyers who discover undisclosed violations can sue for fraud, rescind the purchase, or demand you cover resolution costs plus legal fees. The financial exposure far exceeds whatever advantage you gained by hiding the information.
What You Must Disclose to Buyers
Your disclosure obligations extend beyond violations you personally created or know about. You’re responsible for revealing any violation that appears on official city records, even if you weren’t aware of it.
Required disclosures include:
- All open violations from DOB, HPD, ECB, FDNY, DEP, and other NYC enforcement agencies
- Violations you’ve resolved within the past year that might affect property condition
- Outstanding fines or penalties associated with violations, paid or unpaid
- Stop-work orders, even if you believe they were issued in error
- Lead paint violations or hazardous conditions that required remediation
- Any ongoing disputes or appeals related to violations
- Certificate of occupancy status and whether the current use matches the permitted use
- Structural issues, illegal alterations, or unpermitted work that could generate future violations
You must complete New York’s Property Condition Disclosure Statement for residential properties with one to four units. Commercial properties and larger residential buildings don’t require this specific form, but you still have common law disclosure obligations.
Pull a full BIS report from DOB and violation history from HPD before listing your property. These reports show exactly what appears on public record. Give copies to potential buyers during the due diligence period.
Documentation That Protects You
Proper documentation creates a paper trail proving you disclosed violations accurately and completely. This evidence protects you if buyers later claim you concealed information.
Documents you should provide:
- Complete BIS (Building Information System) report showing all DOB violations and permits
- HPD violation search results for your address
- ECB hearing records and outstanding summonses
- Copies of violation notices you received from any agency
- Proof of payment for fines or evidence of ongoing payment plans
- Correspondence with city agencies about violation status or appeals
- Contractor estimates for unresolved violations, if you obtained them
Get buyer acknowledgment in writing that they received all violation documentation. Include specific language in your purchase agreement stating that the buyer reviewed violation reports and accepts the property with full knowledge of existing issues.
Your attorney should draft an “as-is” addendum that lists each known violation by agency, violation number, and description. Both parties sign this addendum at contract signing. It becomes your strongest defense against future claims.
Never minimize violations verbally or in writing. Telling a buyer that a violation is “minor” or “easy to fix” creates liability if resolution proves more difficult. Provide facts and documentation, but avoid characterizing severity or offering opinions about resolution difficulty.
Some sellers try to resolve violations quietly without telling buyers they ever existed. This backfires when buyers discover the violation history during their own due diligence or through title searches. The cover-up creates more legal exposure than the original violation.
The Buyer’s Due Diligence Checklist for Violation-Heavy Properties
Buyers who consider properties with violations conduct deeper investigations than those purchasing clean buildings. Your due diligence needs to uncover hidden costs, identify resolution timelines, and assess whether the property can support your intended use while violations remain open.
Skipping steps in this process leads to expensive surprises after closing. Violations often signal broader maintenance issues or code compliance problems that aren’t immediately visible. Your investigation protects you from buying a property that costs more to fix than you can recoup through rental income or resale value.
Agency Records and Violation History
Start by pulling complete violation records from every NYC agency that regulates buildings. Sellers provide some documentation, but you need to verify independently through official sources.
Records you must obtain directly:
- DOB BIS Report showing all violations, permits, complaints, and stop-work orders from the Department of Buildings
- HPD Violation Search lists housing maintenance code violations across all units in the building
- ECB Search reveals environmental violations and outstanding fines or hearing dates
- Certificate of Occupancy confirming legal use matches your intended use, and the unit count is accurate
- FDNY Inspection Records documenting fire safety violations and required equipment upgrades
- DEP Water and Sewer Records showing unpaid bills, backflow violations, or cross-connection issues
Pull these records yourself rather than relying on seller-provided copies. Sellers sometimes provide outdated reports or “forget” to update searches as closing approaches. New violations can appear between contract signing and closing that change your cost calculations.
Cross-reference violation dates with property ownership history. Violations that predate the current owner suggest systemic building issues rather than isolated problems. A pattern of recurring violations in the same category indicates the underlying cause was never properly addressed.
Physical Inspection Beyond Surface Conditions
Hire inspectors who understand NYC code requirements and can assess violation severity accurately. General home inspectors often miss code-specific issues that matter for buildings with existing violations.
Your inspection team should include specialists based on violation type. Buildings with structural violations need licensed engineers. Properties with hazardous materials violations require environmental consultants. Fire safety violations warrant FDNY-experienced inspectors who understand compliance paths.
Critical areas inspectors must evaluate:
- Whether visible damage extends beyond what the violation notices describe
- If repairs attempted previously were done properly or created additional code issues
- How violations affect critical building systems like heating, plumbing, or electrical
- Whether the building has other code violations not yet caught by inspectors
- If the property can legally support your intended use, given its current condition
- What additional permits or approvals will you need to bring the building into full compliance
Request access to all areas cited in violation notices. Sellers who restrict access to certain units, mechanical rooms, or basement areas are hiding problems. Walk away from deals where you can’t inspect violation locations directly.
Document everything with photos and detailed notes. Your inspector’s report becomes the foundation for negotiating price adjustments or repair credits. Vague descriptions like “needs repair” don’t give you leverage. Specific findings like “boiler violation requires $18,000 replacement per code” support your negotiation position.
Resolution Cost Estimates and Timeline Projections
Get written quotes from licensed contractors for every violation that requires repair work. Your budget needs real numbers, not guesses based on what similar repairs cost in other buildings.
Contractors should visit the property and review actual violation notices before providing estimates. Remote quotes or ballpark figures from contractors who haven’t seen the building are worthless for due diligence purposes.
Cost categories you must price out separately:
- Direct repair or replacement costs for items cited in violations
- Permit application fees and expediting costs if you need faster DOB approval
- Professional services from architects, engineers, or expediters are required for permit filings
- Inspection fees from city agencies to certify the violation resolution
- Lost rental income if violations prevent you from leasing units during repair periods
- Temporary relocation costs for tenants if repairs require vacant units
| Expense Type | Who Provides the Estimate | Typical Timeline |
| Repair Work | Licensed contractor | 2-3 weeks for quote |
| Permits | Expediter or architect | 1-2 weeks for filing cost |
| Engineering Reports | Structural engineer | 2-4 weeks for assessment |
| Agency Inspections | Check the agency fee schedule | Immediate pricing |
| Tenant Relocation | Calculate monthly rent × months | Based on the work scope |
Add contingency funds to every estimate. Contractors frequently discover additional code issues once they start work on buildings with violation histories. Budget 20-30% above quoted repair costs to cover unexpected complications.
Map out resolution timelines with your contractors and any required professionals. Some violations take months to resolve due to permit approval backlogs or inspection scheduling. Your closing date and occupancy plans need to account for these delays.
Financing and Insurance Feasibility
Contact your lender before you go into contract on a property with violations. Banks have different tolerance levels for various violation types. What one lender approves, another denies outright.
Provide your lender with complete violation documentation and contractor estimates for resolution. They’ll evaluate whether the property provides sufficient collateral and whether you have adequate reserves to handle repairs post-closing.
Lender concerns you need to address:
- Whether violations affect the property’s habitability or income-generating capacity
- If repair costs exceed your liquid reserves after down payment and closing costs
- How long violations will remain open, and whether you can service debt during repair periods
- Whether the property appraises at your contract price, given its violation status
- If title insurance excludes violations from coverage, it creates an uninsurable risk
Get insurance quotes before closing. Properties with certain violations become uninsurable or face premium increases that destroy your cash flow projections. Fire safety violations particularly impact insurance availability and pricing.
Some violations void existing insurance policies. If you’re buying a building where the seller’s insurance has been cancelled due to violations, you need to confirm you can obtain coverage before closing. Otherwise, you’re buying an uninsurable asset.
Legal and Title Complications
Hire an attorney experienced with NYC property transactions involving violations. General practitioners miss nuances that create post-closing problems.
Your attorney reviews violation documentation for red flags that indicate deeper legal issues. Some violations come with mandatory penalties or city liens that must be satisfied before closing. Others trigger ongoing compliance obligations you inherit as the new owner.
Legal issues your attorney must investigate:
- Whether violations have generated liens against the property that affect the title
- If the seller has active disputes or appeals with city agencies over the validity
- Whether violations place the building in HPD Alternative Enforcement or other special programs
- If tenant lawsuits related to violations exist that you’ll inherit as the new owner
- Whether violations indicate illegal alterations that could void your certificate of occupancy
- If resolution requires variances or zoning changes that might not be granted
Title searches reveal violation-related liens, but they don’t show pending enforcement actions or upcoming hearings. Your attorney needs to check court records and agency calendars for actions that haven’t converted to liens yet.
Buildings in HPD enforcement programs face special scrutiny. The city monitors these properties closely and can impose additional penalties or force sales if new violations accumulate. Factor this ongoing risk into your decision to purchase.
Track Violations Automatically During Your Search
Buyers who monitor multiple properties need a systematic way to track violation status across their entire search pipeline. Manually checking each agency website for every property you’re considering becomes unmanageable once you’re evaluating more than a handful of buildings.
ViolationWatch gives you a centralized platform to monitor violations across all NYC enforcement agencies from one dashboard. The system automates the tracking process that would otherwise require hours of manual searches each week.
How buyers use ViolationWatch during property searches:
- Add properties you’re evaluating to your dashboard: Enter the addresses for every building you’re seriously considering. The platform pulls violation data from DOB, HPD, ECB, FDNY, DEP, DEC, DOH, DOT, DSNY, and DOF automatically. You see the complete compliance picture in minutes rather than spending hours navigating separate agency websites. The dashboard reveals the most common issues like expired permits, housing code violations, and environmental citations across your entire search portfolio.
- Monitor for new violations and compliance updates: The system checks for changes continuously while you’re conducting due diligence. New violations that appear between your initial search and closing date get flagged immediately. You spot problems before they become surprises at the closing table. The platform identifies issues like unpermitted additions or illegal alterations that sellers might not have disclosed in their listing materials.
- Receive instant alerts via WhatsApp and email: Configure notifications to multiple phone numbers and email addresses. Your attorney, property manager, and partners all get alerted when the violation status changes. You take action on new violations within hours instead of discovering them weeks later during final title searches. Understanding what an open permit means for your transaction timeline helps you negotiate extensions or credits when necessary.
- Act before fines escalate or deals fall apart: The dashboard shows violation details, status updates, and hearing dates in one place. You contact sellers about newly discovered violations while you still have negotiating leverage. Violations that would have killed deals at closing become manageable issues you address during contract negotiations.
Check Any Property Before You Start Negotiations
Use the lookup tool to search any NYC address instantly. The tool aggregates public information from all city databases into one comprehensive report. You see open violations, resolved issues, and compliance status before you submit an offer. This pre-screening saves time on properties with violation profiles that don’t match your investment criteria.
The lookup tool works for preliminary screening during your initial property search. Once you identify buildings worth pursuing, add them to your full ViolationWatch dashboard for continuous monitoring throughout your due diligence period. Buyers managing multiple acquisitions simultaneously use ViolationWatch to track violation status across their entire pipeline.
In this way, you can compare compliance profiles between properties and prioritize deals based on actual violation data rather than seller representations.
Stop Checking Agency Websites Manually
Selling property with violations doesn’t have to derail your transaction timeline or destroy your negotiating position. You’ve got the framework for handling disclosures, structuring deals, and managing buyer due diligence without leaving money on the table.
What you can do with this knowledge:
- Identify which violations block sales completely, versus which ones you can negotiate through with proper disclosure and deal structure
- Price your property accurately by calculating actual resolution costs instead of guessing at repair expenses or accepting lowball offers
- Structural deals that protect you legally while giving buyers the confidence to move forward on properties with code issues
- Pull complete violation records from all relevant agencies before listing, so you control the disclosure narrative instead of reacting to buyer discoveries
- Evaluate whether fixing violations before listing makes financial sense or if selling as-is with adjusted pricing maximizes your net proceeds
Properties don’t sit on the market for months because they have violations. They sit because owners fail to monitor new violations that appear during marketing, miss disclosure requirements that create legal exposure, or can’t answer buyer questions about resolution costs and timelines.
ViolationWatch solves the monitoring problem that kills deals during the sales process. Add your property to the dashboard and get instant alerts when new violations appear from any of NYC’s enforcement agencies. You spot issues while you’re still negotiating, not after your buyer’s attorney discovers them during title review.
The platform tracks status changes automatically, so you know exactly where each violation stands without manually checking DOB, HPD, and ECB websites multiple times per week.
