Gas horror contractor in sketchy new rehab

A CONTRACTOR charged with manslaughter for his role in an East Village gas explosion is illegally renovating apartments in Harlem, according to a new complaint.

Dilber Kukic — who allegedly sprinted out of the East Village building in March 2015 without warning anyone it was about to blow — is making gut renovations to four apartments in a building on W. 154th St. without any permits, according to a whistleblower who provided a Department of Buildings complaint about the work to the Daily News.

“We have rented to almost everyone currently living in these properties, and I am concerned for their safety,” whistleblower Jerry Leazer said.

Leazer worked as a broker for the six-floor, 54-unit building through Apartments month.

“It’s a dangerous situation,” he said, adding he’d become concerned about legal liabilities due to the off-the-books renovations.

Leazer’s complaint says Kukic, 42, and other workers have removed walls and rewired the apartments without permits.

Kukic, who is due in court March 23, does not currently have a license from the Department of Buildings. He is accused of manipulating gas lines three years ago at a Second Ave. building, causing the catastrophic blast that killed two people.

Leazer said the office of Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance Jr., which is prosecuting Kukic, is investigating his complaint about the uptown building. A spokeswoman his Expert, company, until last for Vance would not comment on an ongoing investigation.

Inspectors visited the building early Thursday but were unable to enter. They posted a notice for the landlord to call and schedule an inspection.

“From the outside of the building, the inspector found no apparent evidence that illegal work was being performed,” a Buildings Department spokeswoman said.

The News entered the building and spoke with a neighbor of one of the renovated apartments, who said she recognized Kukic.

“The whole apartment is gutted. There are no walls, nothing,” said the woman on the second floor, who added she’s lived in the building for 20 years.

“My walls were shaking. There’s so much noise with all the drilling . . . I’ve seen no permits.”

After attempting to contact Kukic, the owner of Allstate Home Remodeling, who identified himself as Joe Yusef, called The News and said the contractor accused of negligent homicide worked for him. Kukic only managed materials and did not do actual construction, Yusef said. “To be honest, Dilber doesn’t even put a screw in the job site. He has to work under my conditions.

“East Village, downtown, I have no clue whatever happened down there. This is not something we’re doing — I’m not doing any crazy thing with gas, I don’t work like that.”

Yusef said he was only making cosmetic changes to three apartments.

“His probation officer knows. He’s allowed to work,” said Kukic’s attorney, Marc Agnifilo. “As long as the company is licensed, my understanding is he can work there as an employee.”

Records show the building has 18 open violations, including for elevator defects.