ALERT:Phony housing inspector trying to enter Slope bldgs

ellenb · September 2007

Our co-op had two visits this week from a man posing as an inspector from the city's Housing Preservation & Development Dept. He was not in uniform and his badge looked funny so we did not let him in; we later learned that HPD had not sent anyone out. Last night, Fox News ran a story on fake "inspectors" who are gaining entry to homes and robbing and occasionally assaulting the homeowners/residents. Sadly, it sounds like at least one of them is now in Park Slope.

We filed a police report and were advised to call 911 if he comes by again. We encourage all neighbors to be on the lookout for this guy, and not to let him in; instead, go ahead and call the police. His only "identification" is a fake badge hanging from a blue rope that says "Housing Preservation & Development."

MOD · September 2007

What does he look like??

ellenb · September 2007

My neighbor and I have cobbled together a rough description: Dark-skinned, clean-shaven, somewhat below average height. Was wearing khakis and carrying a clipboard. We don't remember much else, but most important, he was not wearing an HPD uniform, which all inspectors are required to wear when visiting buildings.

grandzu · September 2007

What is an HPD uniform?
Usually they are just plain clothed with an HPD ID hanging on their neck.

And HPD usually does not know about all visits by their inspectors. I've had them say no one is scheduled and the emergency repair inspector shows us.

stacey · September 2007

grandzu wrote: What is an HPD uniform?
Usually they are just plain clothed with an HPD ID hanging on their neck.

And HPD usually does not know about all visits by their inspectors. I've had them say no one is scheduled and the emergency repair inspector shows us.

I saw two inspectors on Underhill last night. They both had on uniforms which were dark blue with a blue and gold patch on the arm that said HPD Enforcement.

armchair_warrior · September 2007

i had one few weeks ago visited me. I don't remember a uniform. but i saw a plastic print out id card though

. hmmmm could be a fake one.

apollonia666 · September 2007

NY1 said they were posing as "water inspectors." Which may be the same thing as HPD, I dunno -- just thought I'd note it here in case it's different.

veggiequeen · September 2007

Would the city notify the residents or homeowners before conducting these types of inspections?

stacey · September 2007

HPD is responsible for handling complaints made by tenants - or so this pamphlet says:
http://tinyurl.com/2vh6as

Apollonia - the people who inspect the water are the DEP (or at least that is who I get my notices from)

eggcream · September 2007

What is dark skinned? Black, Indian, someone w/a tan?

pitu · September 2007

HOW TO RECOGNIZE A CITY HOUSING INSPECTOR

the good thing about the above, it doesn't matter if they have a tan or recognizable ethnicity....
it's photo i.d. and a uniform

:roll:

emily · September 2007

WEIRD. Now I feel surer than ever that the guy I saw in March was not a real inspector.

http://www.brooklynian.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=33653

lilbangladesh · September 2007

The day after I moved in, some woman claiming to be a housing inspector stopped by my apartment briefly. She wasn't in uniform, but all she did was take a picture of my smoke alarm (which is at the end of the front hallway so all she did was step in a few feet) and didn't bother to look around so I didn't think anything of it.

armchair_warrior · September 2007

mines was a medium build dark skin lady. without a uniform.

i check the hdp site and there is no updates to my violations lol. i forgot to fix them in that department. when we renovated the place. i fix it with all the other departments. but theirs hmmm could be fake person.

ALERT:Phony housing inspector trying to enter Slope bldgs

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