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So much for the renters who were using 'but it is an illegal basement' as a reason to not pay rent.
Up next, u can pitch a tent in your backyard and rent it in warmer weather lol.
The city does this ever so often in order to up their tax revenue. They knew well about basements and new that without them the city would have been in even worse shape with the housing crisis. May as well legalize them.
So much for the renters who were using 'but it is an illegal basement' as a reason to not pay rent.
Up next, u can pitch a tent in your backyard and rent it in warmer weather lol.
The city does this ever so often in order to up their tax revenue. They knew well about basements and new that without them the city would have been in even worse shape with the housing crisis. May as well legalize them.
This is probably a good thing all around if the city simultaneously enforces all the building codes related to these illegal units and lives are saved in doing so. Unfortunately there are probably lots of dopes who have illegal basement apartments and won't go for legalization because they won't want to pay to bring things up to code and they won't want to pay the higher taxes.
Code enforcement will be key.
This is probably a good thing all around if the city simultaneously enforces all the building codes related to these illegal units and lives are saved in doing so. Unfortunately there are probably lots of dopes who have illegal basement apartments and won't go for legalization because they won't want to pay to bring things up to code and they won't want to pay the higher taxes.
Code enforcement will be key.
I couldn't live in a basement, no matter how cheap. If it floods, it's going to eff up my life and renters/homeowners insurance often doesn't cover that. or if it does now it didn't used to.
I have no opinion on garages, I only know people who live in them on the West Coast (lol).
I couldn't live in a basement, no matter how cheap. If it floods, it's going to eff up my life and renters/homeowners insurance often doesn't cover that. or if it does now it didn't used to.
I have no opinion on garages, I only know people who live in them on the West Coast (lol).
Many basements are not under ground dungeons. My basement has 8 ft ceiling, 3 exits (front, back and staircase up to the main entrance on first floor). we installed a sump pump even though we have never had flooding. It is just 4 steps down to get to it.
It is walk in off the streets, tons of natural light. It is just slightly smaller in square footage than the 3 bedroom apartment on the second floor (which is pretty) generous in size.
It is considered a basement by the city. It is much nicer than most people's actual house. We considered going the route of making it a legal unit and converting the building to a 3 family. But the city requires sprinklers, wheelchair accessible ramps and other permits and filings that were just not worth the headache. So we just renovated it and put in a full bathroom with a tub.
I still wouldn't consider the city's offer as once they get their hands on telling u what to do with your property and how u should rent it it would be a headache. So it sits empty.
That's why the city is requiring that property owners hard wire their smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and install sprinklers. They will also be required to have two exits in addition to minimum sized windows. There are many large basements that would make fabulous apartments in the city that are unused.
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