Illegal Home Conversion in Baltimore City (sale, real estate, apartments)

[Dbatiste]

Anyone know about illegal conversion in Baltimore City.

My friend is purchasing a home that is listed with Baltimore City Zoning as a 1 family unit. It is also registered as a rental 1 family unit with Baltimore Property Registration.

However, the real estate broker placed an ad that says the home is a two family. The contract says 2 family.

BGE and Baltimore City Tax and valuation had a record of 2 apartments. It has 2 separate gas and electric meters.

My question is if this is an illegal conversion, how does one fix it? Is it difficult to request City Zoning to change it to a "legal 2 family"?

How did they get meters without the approval of City Zoning?

[barante]

On the basis of what you tell us it is one-family house, regardless of what the agent says. The meters? Have three, it's still a single family house and any other representation is fraudulent.
If your friend is fine with having a single-family house, fine. But he/she should not buy a house on the theory that it is a two-family house and that he/she has to do the appeals which may not produce the desired outcome.

[Dbatiste]

Yeah your right. I'm shocked the broker is standing by his word on this. Not to mention the seller is a church. One would think a broker and a church wouldn't do such a thing.

It's too bad because my friend really wants this house, but can't afford it unless one apartment is rented.

[barante]

O.K., let the seller and the agent have it their way.
Write a contract with a contingency that the sale will happen only after the seller has made the unit legal. See what the seller and the agent say about that.
Just remember, (s)he is a seller's agent, trying to squeeze top dollar out of your friend. But trying to sell something under false pretenses has consequences.

[Dbatiste]

That's a good idea. I will tell my friend. Thanks Barante.