Assigns liability for monetary penalties for an illegal conversion of a housing unit to the person actually so doing and/or the owner, not the residents

Provides that the contractor who performed the construction work which results in an illegal conversion of a housing unit shall be held liable for monetary penalties related to such illegal conversion, rather than the residents; provides that the owner of the building shall be held liable if he or she knew or should reasonably have known that the construction was being done without prior approval by the department of buildings and without the required permits.