Hi! New here and I have a question.

We have just renovated our home in Queens, NY and changed it from a one family to a 2 family home. We are still waiting to get the C of O so that we can refinance. Some friends of our need a place to stay for a couple of months and we were wondering if we could let them stay in our new upstairs apartment without paying any rent. Is this legal? Can we still pursue and obtain our C of O during this time?

If a CO hasn't been issued then technically the space is not considered living space and it's not legal for someone to live there. Whether you decide to let someone live there is up to you, but just be aware that you could be subject to fines if the City finds out. Also keep in mind that the inspector will have to come in to inspect when you apply for the CO. If they find people living there it could be a problem.

No one can live there until you get it approved and a C/O.