Is it safe to sleep in the basement?

While stuffy air below-grade won’t affect anyone living upstairs, it can trigger asthma attacks or other respiratory problems in those who spend time in a basement bedroom or rec room.

What if I dont have a rental reference?

Unfortunately though if a tenant can’t or won’t provide a landlord’s reference you have every right to conclude it is because they know the landlord will tell you about unpaid rent or damage to the property. You should always give great weight to a bad or non-existent reference from a previous landlord.

Is it legal to rent out a basement?

While renting out a basement may be convenient for both the landlord and the renter, it’s important that it is done lawfully. This ensures the safety of the occupants and prevents the landlord from having to pay a pretty hefty fine. What Happens if You Rent an Illegal Apartment?

Where can I rent a basement apartment in Canada?

Alexa Blay and her husband rented a basement apartment in Toronto, Ontario, for about a year and a half. On the upside, she estimates they saved about $300 a month on rent.

Can a family live in a basement apartment?

A basement apartment is cramped enough for one or two people, let alone a family. You’re probably better off living upstairs and renting out the basement. Basement living can take some getting used to.

Why do so many landlords hate basement apartments?

They are the source of landlord/tenant issues when the landlord lives upstairs or tenant/tenant issues when another tenant lives upstairs. If there’s pot smoking in your apartment 90% of the time, it’s wafting up the vents not down. Deadbeats love the damp it or just the smell of unsophisticated landlord that lives upstairs.

Is it illegal to rent a basement apartment?

1. You’re renting a basement, cellar, or attic Basement apartments might seem sweet, but watch out—as I learned in my cellar fiasco, unusual often means illegal. In New York City, in fact, basements are the most common form of an illegal apartment, and cellars and attics may not be far behind.

Alexa Blay and her husband rented a basement apartment in Toronto, Ontario, for about a year and a half. On the upside, she estimates they saved about $300 a month on rent.

What do you need to know about a basement apartment?

Here’s what else you need to know before locking into a lease for a basement apartment, or signing closing documents to purchase one. Garden-level is a loose term, says New York City real estate agent John Jenis. It could mean there’s green space in front or in back of the building, which might be accessible to the apartment.

What are the cons of living in a basement apartment?

The biggest structural con is that the ceiling can be a lot lower than in apartments that are above the ground, Stoddard says. When you couple that with the minimal lighting, it’s not an ideal living situation for some who prefer their spaces to be open and bright.