Unauthorized suite

[DsZ24]

Originally Posted by Glove

it wasnt a small reno, pretty big one,

but we were doing everything legally, then when the inspector came,

we literally had to drop our tools and go through 2 weeks of paperwork MID project. it was fuckin rediculous, everything was eventually passed with no problems,

but why the hell would someone complain anyway? I just dont get it, why do they care what im doing to my house?

Probably some old lady neighbor with nothing better to do. "Some construction worker looked at me the wrong way so I'm going make em pay" Hate people like that.

[GLOW]

Originally Posted by Gumby

city policies are stated in square metres, whereas floor plans are measured in square feet!

i hate that. every time i see metric on construction drawings or code books i'm like give it to me in imperial

i'm always just using google to convert for me

[rb]

a potential risk could be problems with your insurance company or fire department if you have a house fire.

We had a fire at our rental property in Vancouver and were grilled by the fire department and insurance company about whether we had the proper licenses, things up to fire code, having a proper fire exit for the suites, etc. Everything we did was legal but talking to the adjustor, he told me some ppl have had trouble getting their claims approved due to having an unauthorized suite, not having things up to code, etc.

[too_slow]

Wow, I did not know that the City of Burnaby DOES NOT ALLOW legal suites.

[Selanne_200]

Not for rent anyways, you are ALLOWED to have an in-law suite, but you'll need to sign an affidavit stating that it is for a close relative or a nanny

[Gridlock]

Seriously, keep that legal.

Years ago we went to check out a basement suite...now, I'm not a fan of the subterranean lifestyle at all, but we go and check it out. It was nice enough, but the guy was a douche.

Anyway, he's going on that he wants rent paid in cash...the whole thing just made me feel so far off the record that I was purely there to pay the mortgage. Yeah, I know, that's the point, but you don't need to throw it in my face.

My point here is, keep it legal. At 84 rental units(and counting!) here's a few things that are gonna help you out:

1. You'll get a dickhead tenant.

You want to feel jumpy every time there is a knock on the door? Cause you are going to have a dickhead. You are going to spend 6 months getting rid of him, and 5 minutes after you do, he's going to call the city.

2. You are going to have dickhead neighbors.

They are everywhere! They don't like you, or anyone for that matter. They'll call the city just for the entertainment. Your basement dwellers will be a nice target.

3. Bylaw enforcement officers are dickheads.

You seeing a trend here? Big floppy penis's abound man. They have shit jobs. A 'bust' is the highlight of their xmas party stories.

So..tenants, neighbors and the city are all against you. Too many bad guys for my taste.

[dhillon09]

lol there's always anonymous whistle blowers. One hounded us for not having grass while the house was under construction

another time, we were making a house for ourselves to live us, and we (as the owners) went to the house with shovels to level the ground for the grass on a sunday ... someone called the cops for a noise complain how do you call a noise complain on 3 guys with shovels at 1pm on a sunday? Some people just love being dicks.


Back on topic, the way most vancouver special houses are made are upper floor is washroom/living room/kitchen/dining room/ bed rooms and two basement suites on the bottom (one smaller 1 bedroom/bath/kitchen and one larger 2 bedroom/bath/kitchen). Without this setup most people cannot afford the vancouver house they live in, renters pay off the mortgage and most people don't register their suites.

[Gumby]

Does anyone know if windows are required on all bedrooms in a suite? Even if the suite is 100% below ground level?

These city bylaw documents are so difficult to interpret...

[Selanne_200]

I'm not sure if suites are allowed to be 100% below ground but yes, windows are required in every bedroom as far as I know

[TheNewGirl]

They are as a fire safety thing. You can count a windowless room as a "den" but not a bedroom IIRC.

[melloman]

A bedroom by law needs to have:

A window (for emergency escape)
A closet (can be substituted for an armoire IIRC)

[Gumby]

Originally Posted by TheNewGirl

They are as a fire safety thing. You can count a windowless room as a "den" but not a bedroom IIRC.

A "den" can have a bed, right?

(Not looking for a serious answer)

Originally Posted by melloman

A bedroom by law needs to have:

A window (for emergency escape)
A closet (can be substituted for an armoire IIRC)

Thanks, but the requirement for a closet makes no logical sense... it's just a "nice to have" thing!

[melloman]

Originally Posted by Gumby

Thanks, but the requirement for a closet makes no logical sense... it's just a "nice to have" thing!

Yeah.. Don't ask me why, but when I was in school it was a "MUST" (took Architectural Design) so yeah.. I think it's a "live-ability" thing.

[Selanne_200]

That's weird tho, Cuz I currently have an authorized secondary suite in the basement of my house and there are no closets on the approved plan for either bedroom in the suite

[TheNewGirl]

The closet thing might differ from city to city. Every city has their own criteria.

[quasi]

Got a letter in the mail from the city that I have an illegal suite and unless I have a city inspector come by there going to start charging me more for my garbage and what not through property taxes. I don't have a suite but I think this is awesome, apparently everyone on my block got one and 9/10 people do have suites.

At least the city is doing something right for once.

[jACE]

^ouch. That will be a shock to the neighbours renting out an unauthorized suite. But I wonder, how can that be enforced? The letter is presuming you are renting out. In your case, they were wrong. Does that mean they can still enter your house without a warrant just to verify?

[ruthless]

Originally Posted by jACE

^ouch. That will be a shock to the neighbours renting out an unauthorized suite. But I wonder, how can that be enforced? The letter is presuming you are renting out. In your case, they were wrong. Does that mean they can still enter your house without a warrant just to verify?

I believe he will have to call in and make an appointment for an inspector to come check it out. I believe the inspector comes in and checks to see if there is a stove present and the appropriate plug for the stove(there shouldn't be a stove or a plug if there is no basement suite being rented out; but all municipalities are different with their regulations) also he/she may go through the rooms in the basement to see if anyone other than the owner is living there.

[quasi]

Ya pretty much. I have to make an appointment for them to view, if I don't I automatically get billed.

[Mr.HappySilp]

The thing is so many people rent these so call illegal suites coz is cheaper and the rental market is in high demand now.

Just image just 20 to 25% of these illegal suites stops renting coz of the by law and another 20 to 25% starts charging more becasue they now have to pay for more tax etc etc........ A lot of people will have a tough time finding a place to rent.

[Acura604]

I've got a suite rented out to a couple who don't even have a car.

But across the street there are two houses side by side with 2 brothers who chose to live next to each other. So, both have tenants - tenants have 3 cars. Home owner has total of 6 cars. So yah, you guessed it - 5 cars parked on the street. At times in front of my home which pisses me off.


Anyways back to the suite rental, it definitely helps as a mortgage helper but Im selling next year and moving to a home with no suite....too much hassle at times.

[murd0c]

Originally Posted by quasi

Got a letter in the mail from the city that I have an illegal suite and unless I have a city inspector come by there going to start charging me more for my garbage and what not through property taxes. I don't have a suite but I think this is awesome, apparently everyone on my block got one and 9/10 people do have suites.

At least the city is doing something right for once.

I rent the lower half of my dad's place and he received that same letter then other week. Just a fricken hassle and extra money when you have the huge houses living in Surrey that have 6 suite's in them and they city does nothing.

It's just a cash grab so the goverment officals can get bigger bonuses I'm sure.

[quasi]

Since you rent from your dad does he still have to pay higher tax suite or not? You're family, it's the same as if you lived at home, no?

I really don't have a problem with people who are renting out paying more they do use more services. Like the post a few up, the renters to my left have 6 cars and 8 people living there. Those 8 people use a lot more garbage and sewage then myself, wife and son do.

[Teh Doucher]

Originally Posted by murd0c

I rent the lower half of my dad's place and he received that same letter then other week. Just a fricken hassle and extra money when you have the huge houses living in Surrey that have 6 suite's in them and they city does nothing.

It's just a cash grab so the goverment officals can get bigger bonuses I'm sure.

6 suites? exaggeration much?

[GLOW]

Originally Posted by Teh Doucher

6 suites? exaggeration much?

maybe he meant 6 families living in it