Flanders Home, Allegedly Housing 17, Cited for Overcrowding

Southampton Police and Code Enforcers executed a search warrant on an overcrowded Flanders home housing 17 people on Tuesday, resulting in 13 code violations. 

According to town officials, four overcrowding citations were issued, including one which determined four people were living in a 99-square foot bedroom at the Silver Brook Drive home. In total, two families of four and nine unrelated occupants lived in the house. Twelve cars were also found on the property - four over what Southampton town allows (based on the home)

State code, according to town legislative aide Ryan Horn, provides 70 square feet for the first occupant of a home, followed by an additional 50 square feet for each additional occupant. 

While the owner of the property - Michael Dorazio, of Hampton Bays - did have a rental permit, the owner did not have permission to make the house a multi-family dwelling, or maintain a second apartment. Extension cords were reportedly found to be used in place of permanent wiring, and several smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors were allegedly missing from the home. 

Tuesday's bust came less than a month after in Flanders in Northampton on one day in February.

"Code Enforcement seeks to thoroughly investigate every complaint it receives from constituents," said Horn, in an e-mail. "The Town tries to emphasize the importance of safety measures like smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and substitution of extension cords for permanent wiring is another constant concern. More broadly, it’s about education too. In many cases, people are still unaware of the smoke and carbon monoxide detector rules. The rental law helps address this by requiring an inspection to ensure a home is safe before people move in."

Horn added that in the next couple of weeks, Southampton will be adding to its code enforcement staff - currently one chief inspector and six ordinance inspectors - with the addition of a part-time code enforcer.

Dorazio was charged with the following violations: 

·         No smoke detector (2 counts )

·         Change of use (1 count)

·         Extension cords used as permanent wiring (2 counts)

·         No certificate of occupancy for second kitchen

·         Overcrowding (4 counts, including one bedroom that was 99 square feet with four occupants)

·         Electrical work without permit

·         Building without permits

·         Property maintenance, including falling down fences