Klimas v. Brumbach

Van Siclen, J. The plaintiff sues to impress a lien upon real property which he contracted to buy for the amount that he paid down on the contract and searching fees. The plaintiff claims the title is unmarketable because of an easement and certain encroachments of the building. The contract provided for a deed subject to “ Covenants and restrictions running with the land ” and it would seem that the exception was broad enough to cover the easement in question. Dime Savings Bank v. Butler, 167 App. Div. 257; affd., 215 N. Y. 708. The encroachments consist of store windows, cellar doors, steps, fire escapes, cornices and pilasters, all [300] extending over the street line. The pilasters are four in number constructed of brick and of course built more or less into the walls of' the building. The largest extent to which the pilasters encroach is about five inches. The rule in such cases has been stated in Acme Realty Co. v. Schinasi, 215 N. Y.495, as follows: “ In these circumstances it cannot be said that a vendor has a marketable title if his building encroaches upon the public street to such an extent as to threaten a vendee with a substantial loss in the fee and rental value of the premises and a burden- . some expense in altering the building to meet the requirements of the law. A vendee has the right to a title that will enable him to hold his land in peace, and to be reasonably sure that no flaw or doubt will arise to affect its marketable quality and value. (Vought v. Williams, 120 N. Y. 253, 257; Blanck v. Sadlier, 153 id. 551, 556; Moot v. Business Men’s Investment Assn., 157 id. 201; McPherson v. Schade, 149 id. 16; Heller v. Cohen, 154 id. 299, 306.) ” Practically all of the encroachments mentioned have been disregarded in various decisions. Acme Realty Co. v. Schinasi, 154 App. Div. 397; Celestial Realty Co. v. Childs, 100 Misc. Rep. 532. In the Acme case the court found it impossible to ignore oriel windows of solid masonry construction from the foundation up which encroached one foot over the street line because they could not be removed without defacing the entire building, but platforms, steps and show windows were not considered serious. In the instant case the encroachments complained of appear to be common in the neighborhood in question and no action as yet has been taken by the authorities toward requiring their removal. The failure to do so does not preclude them, however, from enforcing the law at any time. It cannot be said that [301] the removal of these encroachments would decrease the rental value of the premises and yet the testimony is that the cost of their removal might exceed $3,000 which must be held to be burdensome. So that it might be said that the enforced removal of same might ■entail a decrease in fee value. I cannot find any authority nor has one been cited to the effect that the exception in the contract would ■cover encroachments visible upon inspection but not discoverable without a survey. In this case they are eighteen in number although it is the four brick pilasters that are the more serious. Unquestionably the authorities could and might at any time be disposed to require the removal of a substantial portion of these encroachments and in such an event the cost would be such as to constitute a “ burdensome expense.” It does not seem that the purchaser should be compelled to complete his purchase. Judgment will be directed for the plaintiff for the amount paid on the contract and for title examination. Judgment for plaintiff.