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I was just reading through the Illegal Apt in Islip thread when I realized that my parent's house may have a violation. I was hoping someone would know the answer to this. They have owned the house since 1970. Just the two of them live there. Since the basement was so big and so bright, my Dad added a stove and a sink into the laundry room and this became the primary kitchen since the 70's. The original kitchen is still on the ground floor, but I could count on one hand the amount of times the stove has been on in the past 30 years.
If I read the post correctly, this "second" kitchen downstairs would be a violation. Is that true? They are in their late 80's, so I do not want to freak them out - and this is definitely not a case of them renting anything out.
Any comments would be appreciated. I had no idea we were doing or had done anything illegal.
It is NOT illegal. The basement is not being used as an apartment and being rented out so don't worry about it.
try explaining it to the town, it wont do you any good. the law is the law and if you have 2 stoves, you have 2 kitchens and thats considered an apartment. they dont care if your pet fish live down there.
Flo Rider is correct. It is nothing to worry about while they are living there, but before the house can ever be sold or before they have a inspector come in for any CO they would have to get that second stove out of there.
Thanks very much for the replies. I'm not going to bother telling them about this. As pjes said, it won't be a problem now, and the stove can be moved out at a future date if required. I'm just glad that due to this board, I am at least aware there is a problem. Thanks again.
It depends on the basement itself, things like: height of the ceiling, where the boiler is, the size of the windows, whether there is a separate outside entrance. Cellar type basements (low ceiling, little windows a person couldn't climb out of, etc.) have more restrictions than others. The way you describe it, sounds like it is a basement that would allow for what they call a "summer kitchen."
Maybe, I_Love_LI_but, but they DO live in an incorporated village and from past dealings with that agency, I would say they would deem this a problem. Just to answer your questions though, the ceiling height is 8 feet, this 2nd kitchen is a seperate room (i.e. the laundry room) containing the washer, dryer, sink, stove, kitchen cabinets, vent for stove (to outside), the boiler. It has its own window AND the door to the backyard is right there too. I had the house inspected about 6 years ago since I wanted to make sure the wiring through-out the house was current. The independent inspector spent hours at the house in every nook and cranny (including this 2nd kitchen) and everything was in excellent shape and to code.
But now I know better - when the time comes, the stove will go.
Maybe, I_Love_LI_but, but they DO live in an incorporated village and from past dealings with that agency, I would say they would deem this a problem. Just to answer your questions though, the ceiling height is 8 feet, this 2nd kitchen is a seperate room (i.e. the laundry room) containing the washer, dryer, sink, stove, kitchen cabinets, vent for stove (to outside), the boiler. It has its own window AND the door to the backyard is right there too. I had the house inspected about 6 years ago since I wanted to make sure the wiring through-out the house was current. The independent inspector spent hours at the house in every nook and cranny (including this 2nd kitchen) and everything was in excellent shape and to code.
But now I know better - when the time comes, the stove will go.
Yes, it's all up to the municipality that the house falls under and some are stricter than others!!!
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