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Im currently living in a 1 bedroom basement apartment in Bergenfield, Bergen County. The apartment is half under ground and half above. The apartment has an accessory door on the side of the house that is the only access point into and out of the apartment. Their is no attachment to the top floor level. Their is also a bedroom, full kitchen, and full bath. I am curious whether or not the apartment is legal. If anyone has any information regarding the subject please do share. Thank you for all of your time.
The apartment windows are full size windows. The bottom of the windows meet the outer ground. Thank you for the information regarding the fire department, I will contact them for their opinion.
The apartment may be safe and meet fire code in terms of emergency egress but may be illegal if it's not in an area zoned for multi-family housing. If that is the case and code enforcement finds out, you will have to move, although you'll get a nice lump of money from your landlord. Is that what you want to happen?
No not at all actually. My landlord and I have a decent relationship were there have been no major issues with each other. I could really care less about taking money from his pockets. But I am curious to the legitimate legality of the apartment.
You may have a decent relationship now, but I can guarantee you, you won't if you end up bringing the town's attention to a (potential) illegal apartment. I agree w mcip, if there are no issues, why start ones?
You may have a decent relationship now, but I can guarantee you, you won't if you end up bringing the town's attention to a (potential) illegal apartment. I agree w mcip, if there are no issues, why start ones?
yeah. usually people ask the initial question after they have rented the apartment, have a problem with the landlord and then all the sudden they are concerned with the legality of the apartment. its a way of getting back at the landlord when angered by something. the person was clearly not bothered by the legality of the apartment in the beginning, thats why they rented it.
I will also jump on the "Leave well enough alone" bandwagon. If you are not having problems, if you do not want to move, if you dont want to get your landlord in trouble, then don't cause any undue trouble for yourself.
If you are REALLY worried about it in case you will be forced to move at some point in the future, just start saving as much money as you can to cover moving expenses, just in case. This way you are prepared and will hopefully not have to endure any immense hardship. If it ends up that you do not have to move, you have simply built up your savings a bit more.
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