Basement Apartment Laws
Any individual interested in renting out his basement in order to make some extra cash should be aware of the laws that apply. Basement apartment laws are designed to ensure that the occupant is living in a safe, habitable environment, and if she is not, the property owner can be held liable. Does this Spark an idea?
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Exits
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Basement apartments must have at least two exits attached. In order for a basement apartment to be legal, there must be at least two working exits in the event of an emergency. Under the guidelines of the Boston housing code, all basement apartments must also contain a window that makes up at least eight percent of the rental unit. For example, if the basement is 100 square feet, the window has to be at least eight square feet.
Spacing
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Legal basement apartments must have a certain amount of living space. In order for a basement apartment to be legal, it must contain a certain amount of floor space. In Boston, each basement apartment must have a minimum of 150 square feet of living space and an additional 100 square feet for each additional person who occupies the apartment. If one person occupies a bedroom, it must have at least 70 square feet of space and 100 square feet if a couple is sharing the bedroom.
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Toronto
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Toronto has its own set of basement apartment laws to follow. Basement laws don't only apply to America, but to other parts of the world as well. For example, basement apartments in Toronto must have a ceiling height of at least 6 feet 5 inches. Bathrooms have to be equipped with either a fan or window, and the kitchen must contain a working stove and refrigerator. The owner of the property must also ensure that a working smoke alarm is installed.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit building a basement 2 image by Kostyantyn Ivanyshen from Fotolia.com exit image by Joseph Pierce from Fotolia.com measuring tape image by Horticulture from Fotolia.com Toronto skyline image by Pavel Cheiko from Fotolia.com
