House and Home Renovations THIS SPACE OPEN FOR ADVERTISEMENT. YOU SHOULD BE ADVERTISING HERE!
Designing your new condo or townhouse? Renovating your kitchen? Share your photos and project ideas with other experts here! We're not just modifying our cars anymore.. |
 | 
12-30-2014, 10:16 PM
|
#1 | | I contribute to threads in the offtopic forum
Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Vancouver
Posts: 2,512
Thanked 2,169 Times in 959 Posts
| Unauthorized suite in new duplex (Van)
Looked at a new duplex today that has a 2 bedroom unauthorized suite today (Vancouver) and the real estate agent recommended that if I were to buy the unit that I not rent it out in the first year in case the city comes to inspect it. Not renting it out the suite in the first year makes the purchase a no go for me (we could afford it financially but I wouldn't want to stretch like that).
The suite is already roughed in as a separate unit, the only thing missing is a door to the rest of the house and a vent for the kitchen fan. It was clearly built to be rented out.
So...
Is his concern a fairly serious one or a cautious one? Is it realistic for me to have the city approve it since it wasn't part of the plan in the first place and it's new?
thanks,
__________________
Current: 2019 Acura RDX
Gone: 2007 Acura TSX, 2008 Mazda 3 GT, 2003 Mazda Miata LS, 2008 Mazda Miata GT PRHT, 2003 Mazda Protege 5
| 
|  | |
01-01-2015, 10:37 AM
|
#2 | | My homepage has been set to RS
Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Vancouver
Posts: 2,099
Thanked 2,114 Times in 482 Posts
|
you can try and have the city approve it, but im not sure on what the fees are. however, if its roughed in and the real estate agent does recommend not to rent it out, i say the city have probably already denied the request.
| |
| | |
01-01-2015, 11:46 AM
|
#3 | | The Brown Reason
Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Whalley
Posts: 4,607
Thanked 5,863 Times in 1,525 Posts
|
a family member made a house w/ suite in east van, and about a year later the city came by to inspect it. We just put the tenants up in a hotel for the weekend and removed the cabinets -- got it approved and re-installed all the cabinets. Maybe a day's worth of work max
__________________ Quote: |
Originally Posted by bcrdukes fuck this shit, i'm out | | |
| | |
01-01-2015, 10:00 PM
|
#4 | | I answer every Emotion with an emoticon
Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Vansterdam
Posts: 7,961
Thanked 1,761 Times in 903 Posts
|
Yea I'm not sure on the costs and process after the fact but here's the process had it been done from the start. Build and legalize your basement or secondary suite | City of Vancouver
__________________
"back at the line to Babych.... LONG SHOT....Potvin had trouble with it....ADAM SHOOTS SCORES!!!!
GREG ADAMS!! GREG ADAMS!!"
| |
| | |
01-02-2015, 07:52 AM
|
#5 | | I contribute to threads in the offtopic forum
Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Vancouver
Posts: 2,512
Thanked 2,169 Times in 959 Posts
| Quote:
Originally Posted by dhillon09  a family member made a house w/ suite in east van, and about a year later the city came by to inspect it. We just put the tenants up in a hotel for the weekend and removed the cabinets -- got it approved and re-installed all the cabinets. Maybe a day's worth of work max | Thanks, it sounds like the process is a bit of theatre. It seems from this and others that the city is caught between a rock and a hard place - they need more housing so don't want to force people out of their homes but they also want to get compliance and extra revenue - so they are just doing cursory checks to see if a kitchen is in place.
The zoning for the unit I'm looking at allows for a suite and I think it wouldn't be too hard to get it approved so I'll look into it as the "theatre" will be harder to do with this unit.
__________________
Current: 2019 Acura RDX
Gone: 2007 Acura TSX, 2008 Mazda 3 GT, 2003 Mazda Miata LS, 2008 Mazda Miata GT PRHT, 2003 Mazda Protege 5
| |
| | |
01-02-2015, 10:24 AM
|
#6 | | Willing to sell body for a few minutes on RS
Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Vancouver
Posts: 10,044
Thanked 3,059 Times in 1,179 Posts
|
The fact that it is a new duplex, and yet the suite is not authorized, suggests that there is something that the builder did not include to make it authorized.
So assuming you buy the unit, you can either:
1) pay for the work & fees to get it authorized, and never have to worry about the city, or
2) rent it out eventually, but run the risk of having the city knock on your door one day
There are pros and cons to having an authorized suite - the question is how much hassle are you willing to put up with? You can do all the work now, or do nothing now, and maybe have to do work later? Personally, I hate being hassled so I made sure my suite was authorized.
__________________
Do Not Put Aftershave on Your Balls. -604CEFIRO
Looks like I'm gonna have some hot sex again tonight...OOPS i got the 6 pack. that wont last me the night, I better go back and get the 24 pack! -Turbo E
kinda off topic but obama is a dilf - miss_crayon
Honest to fucking Christ the easiest way to get a married woman in the mood is clean the house and do the laundry.....I've been with the same girl almost 17 years, ask me how I know. - quasi
| |
| | |
01-02-2015, 10:28 AM
|
#7 | | Willing to sell body for a few minutes on RS
Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Vancouver
Posts: 10,044
Thanked 3,059 Times in 1,179 Posts
| Quote:
Originally Posted by dhillon09 a family member made a house w/ suite in east van, and about a year later the city came by to inspect it. We just put the tenants up in a hotel for the weekend and removed the cabinets -- got it approved and re-installed all the cabinets. Maybe a day's worth of work max | Wait - I think you mean the house inspection got approved, but not the suite. Important distinction there!
__________________
Do Not Put Aftershave on Your Balls. -604CEFIRO
Looks like I'm gonna have some hot sex again tonight...OOPS i got the 6 pack. that wont last me the night, I better go back and get the 24 pack! -Turbo E
kinda off topic but obama is a dilf - miss_crayon
Honest to fucking Christ the easiest way to get a married woman in the mood is clean the house and do the laundry.....I've been with the same girl almost 17 years, ask me how I know. - quasi
| |
| | |
01-02-2015, 10:31 AM
|
#8 | | My homepage has been set to RS
Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Burnaby
Posts: 2,025
Thanked 1,079 Times in 368 Posts
|
To have an authorized suite could mean big bucks on redoing your electrical depending on how cheap your builder was. (They will usually try to save money wherever they can) That stuff has to be all separated from the main panel onto a sub if it isn't already...
__________________
Electrician.
| |
| | |
01-02-2015, 10:44 AM
|
#9 | | I contribute to threads in the offtopic forum
Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Vancouver
Posts: 2,512
Thanked 2,169 Times in 959 Posts
| Quote:
Originally Posted by Matlock To have an authorized suite could mean big bucks on redoing your electrical depending on how cheap your builder was. (They will usually try to save money wherever they can) That stuff has to be all separated from the main panel onto a sub if it isn't already... | When you say big bucks do you mean a few grand or much more? I plan on having it inspected by the city as a condition of purchase but is there a way for me to tell when I see the house again? My father in law was an electrician by trade in the past if that helps.
__________________
Current: 2019 Acura RDX
Gone: 2007 Acura TSX, 2008 Mazda 3 GT, 2003 Mazda Miata LS, 2008 Mazda Miata GT PRHT, 2003 Mazda Protege 5
| |
| | |
01-12-2015, 03:55 AM
|
#10 | | NEWBIE ACCOUNT!
Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: under a bridge
Posts: 13
Thanked 11 Times in 6 Posts
|
I'd take your agent's words seriously. I actually rent an unauthorized suite (financial stability is an unknown concept to me) and the City has been sending us inspection notices recently. The landlord's been renting this place out for a few years already, so I'd take your agent's warnings further than just the first year. I'm already looking for a new place in case my landlord gets into trouble with the City.
Redoing the electrical system is going to be a major hassle, regardless of the price. I wouldn't be optimistic about it.
| |
| | |
01-12-2015, 08:54 AM
|
#11 | | reads most threads with his pants around his ankles, especially in the Forced Induction forum.
Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Vancouver
Posts: 10,645
Thanked 2,191 Times in 1,131 Posts
| Quote:
Originally Posted by Matlock To have an authorized suite could mean big bucks on redoing your electrical depending on how cheap your builder was. (They will usually try to save money wherever they can) That stuff has to be all separated from the main panel onto a sub if it isn't already... | +1 and you have to make windows in every room (not 100% sure) among a few other things. Also your property tax will go up, hydro etc etc will also go up as well. If in the future you decide not to rent it out anymore and wants to pay a lower property tax you have to inform the city and they will come and cut some plumbing to the rental unit.
Also for cable/Interent. If they see you have a seperate kitchen/stove they will cut off the service to the basement unit and they tenate is require to setup their own acct or you have to pay for 2 accounts. This happen to my parent's house. Basically, the tenate was getting Internet/cable with us. They decided to get their own Internet and when Shaw came they cut off their cable service. So now if they want cable they have to pay for it.
| |
| | |
01-12-2015, 11:38 AM
|
#12 | | My homepage has been set to RS
Join Date: May 2005 Location: #604
Posts: 2,267
Thanked 2,454 Times in 813 Posts
|
There are lots of sticky points in an unauthorized suite.
The worst case I've seen and heard about, is the city coming by and denying the suite, and having the inspector there to supervisor the kitchen to be dis-assembled.
__________________ Quote: | [17-03, 09:23] Amuro Ray is it normal for my dick to have things growing on it? | Quote: [15-05, 13:34] FastAnna You guise are like diet coke and I am the mentos
[15-05, 13:34] FastAnna Incredible. How easy it is. | Quote:
Originally Posted by murd0c I'm scared of spiders... When I see one I toss my cats at it | | |
| | |
01-12-2015, 04:33 PM
|
#13 | | I *heart* Revscene.net very Muchie
Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: vancouver
Posts: 3,606
Thanked 724 Times in 370 Posts
|
i've got an unauthorized suite that i'll be renting out soon....anyone have links for the actual requirements??
i'm not going to be going through the process of legalizing it but i'm curious on the official requirements
| |
| | |
01-13-2015, 08:54 PM
|
#14 | | Even when im right, revscene.net is still right!
Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Vancouver
Posts: 1,398
Thanked 235 Times in 78 Posts
|
Not sure about all the requirements but a few things I can remember is there needs to be a fire resistance (15 min I believe) separating the suite from the main house, a separate electrical panel, windows and doors of certain size
__________________
quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by Miss_Girly
Bring some RS people with you to help u GANG BANG the guy!!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| |
| | |
01-14-2015, 06:39 AM
|
#15 | | I *heart* Revscene.net very Muchie
Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: vancouver
Posts: 3,606
Thanked 724 Times in 370 Posts
|
ha serious they have to have their own breaker panel?? makes sense for convenience/maintenance issues i guess
i was aware of the fire door requirement
| |
| | |
01-14-2015, 09:22 AM
|
#16 | | Willing to sell body for a few minutes on RS
Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Vancouver
Posts: 10,044
Thanked 3,059 Times in 1,179 Posts
|
The Secondary Suite Guide lists some basic requirements.
Can't find a listing of the "official" requirements though... Because the city wants to come check out your place first I bet! 
__________________
Do Not Put Aftershave on Your Balls. -604CEFIRO
Looks like I'm gonna have some hot sex again tonight...OOPS i got the 6 pack. that wont last me the night, I better go back and get the 24 pack! -Turbo E
kinda off topic but obama is a dilf - miss_crayon
Honest to fucking Christ the easiest way to get a married woman in the mood is clean the house and do the laundry.....I've been with the same girl almost 17 years, ask me how I know. - quasi
| |
| | |
01-14-2015, 10:28 AM
|
#17 | | Willing to sell body for a few minutes on RS
Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Cloverdale
Posts: 11,533
Thanked 3,731 Times in 1,322 Posts
|
From Gumby's link above they either did a piss poor job of wording it or they are only requiring a smoke seal which if true is not only surprising but ridiculous IMO. I wouldn't put in a suite without a minimum of 1 hour separation in my house.
__________________
The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It's a very mean and nasty place... and I donīt care how tough you are, it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently, if you let it. You, me or nobody, is gonna hit as hard as life. But ain't about how hard you hit... It's about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward... how much you can take, and keep moving forward. Thatīs how winning is done. Now, if you know what you worth, go out and get what you worth. - Rocky Balboa | |
| | |
02-06-2015, 09:22 PM
|
#18 | | I Will not Admit my Addiction to RS
Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Vancity
Posts: 543
Thanked 120 Times in 30 Posts
| Unauthorized suite in new duplex (Van)
my parents house went through a secondary suite house inspection last year. they have an asshole neighbour that works for the city so they decided to go through the process of legalizing their rental suite to avoid future issues.
from what I remember:
- there needs to be a self closing fireproof door that separates the suite to the main house
- the suite has to be >400 sqft
- the main entrance door to the suite requires a peephole
- if it's in a basement, there needs to be a minimum height requirement of how much below the ground it is
- doesn't require own breaker panel as some people have said
I can't remember any other stuff right now but if there's any questions, I'm sure I can ask my folks
| |
| | |
Posting Rules
| You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
| | |
All times are GMT -8. The time now is 04:59 AM.
|
You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our free community you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join our community today!
The banners on the left side and below do not show for registered users!
