Basement has Kitchen and Bathroom - Can We Keep It?
Hi, We’re looking at a multi-famiyl frame house that currently has a kitchen and bathroom in the basement. If we do work to refinish the basement (I understand there are very technical distinctinos btwn basement and cellar – this is a space that seems to have no windows at all, entirely underground) — can we…
Hi,
We’re looking at a multi-famiyl frame house that currently has a kitchen and bathroom in the basement. If we do work to refinish the basement (I understand there are very technical distinctinos btwn basement and cellar – this is a space that seems to have no windows at all, entirely underground) — can we keep the bathroom? We’d like to have a guest room down there. Will that be legal?
Thanks
Thanks!
Jock and I have both been able to get restrictive declarations for 3-piece baths in cellars, allowing a toilet, sink and shower. Depending upon the configuration of the kitchen (size, etc) you might be able to claim that it’s a wet bar or something, but the stove will be an issue. If you can demonstrate that the are won’t be used as a separate dwelling unit, then you might have a chance with a reconsideration. They’re easy to file and within a month you’ll have an answer and be ab;e to move on definitively one way or another.
if it’s a cellar, you can file to have a toilet no problem, but you might not be able to get permission for a bathtub or shower.
What does the C of O say?
You can sometimes get a reconsideration for an existing cellar three-piece bath if you file a restrictive declaration, stating that the space won’t be used as living space.