Illegal Bedrooms

[Anonymous]

Not exactly the same situation, but I’ve noticed a LOT of listings mention a basement as a “income generating opportunity” when it is definitely not legal to rent out or use as an Airbnb. Particularly bad in the flipped townhouses in Columbia Heights, Eckington, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How are realtors allowed to list homes like this? This house actually has three bedrooms. The other two don’t have proper egress windows and can’t legally be considered bedrooms.

Is there any recourse for realtors who offer up dishonest listings? I feel like I see this more and more.

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/13700-Arctic-Ave-Rockville-MD-20853/37314720_zpid/

Are you relying on the listing? No. Who cares?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not exactly the same situation, but I’ve noticed a LOT of listings mention a basement as a “income generating opportunity” when it is definitely not legal to rent out or use as an Airbnb. Particularly bad in the flipped townhouses in Columbia Heights, Eckington, etc.

Actually you can rent many of the places out as Airbnb’s - you just rent them out as separate apartments or ADUS, because they are not separately metered and share heating/electric systems. So, you could rent them as rooms in a private home in DC or an in-law suite.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My house has one. We asked the inspector how it has been sold listed as a bedroom multiple times given that it clearly doesn't meet the code, and he said the house is so old it's considered "grandfathered in."

Since our room in question is in a first floor, single level addition, we're planning to cut vertically into the wall to simply put in a larger window. Annoyed that this is a cost we are taking on as the buyers, but that's onr of thr compromises we had to make in this crazy market.

Nobody forced you to buy the house. You sound ridiculous.

DP

That was unnecessary.

PP explained her situation. And said she is correcting the issue to bring the home up to code.

Nothing ridiculous about being annoyed that the house was allowed to be listed and sold for more bedrooms than it legally had.

Thanks PP! It is correct that no one forced me to buy the house. Given the options on the market and that this is a low four figure fix, we decided to just deal with it, but I'm not sure that "you bought the house so you must love EVERYTHING about it" is realistic in a low inventory market like this. We take what we can get. We can still dislike aspects.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The new favorite in my area (Fairfax County) is realtors saying "county assessed square footage is not accurate," or something along those lines, and then adding in that the basement square footage.

Unless something has changed (in the last 6 months), below grade area of any kind has never factored into total square footage. Has something changed?

Agree about the basement, but IME the square footage in the Fairfax County property records is usually wrong. It often doesn’t include a recent addition, or it does include a screened in porch, etc etc. I started checking my neighborhood, after a realtor looked at comparables and said a house down the street that had recently sold was larger than ours, and I knew it wasn’t. Almost every one I looked at was wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My house has one. We asked the inspector how it has been sold listed as a bedroom multiple times given that it clearly doesn't meet the code, and he said the house is so old it's considered "grandfathered in."

Since our room in question is in a first floor, single level addition, we're planning to cut vertically into the wall to simply put in a larger window. Annoyed that this is a cost we are taking on as the buyers, but that's onr of thr compromises we had to make in this crazy market.

Nobody forced you to buy the house. You sound ridiculous.

DP

That was unnecessary.

PP explained her situation. And said she is correcting the issue to bring the home up to code.

Nothing ridiculous about being annoyed that the house was allowed to be listed and sold for more bedrooms than it legally had.

Thanks PP! It is correct that no one forced me to buy the house. Given the options on the market and that this is a low four figure fix, we decided to just deal with it, but I'm not sure that "you bought the house so you must love EVERYTHING about it" is realistic in a low inventory market like this. We take what we can get. We can still dislike aspects.

But why is OP spending the money? You don't have to bring it up to code. If OP chooses to do so, that's on her, but it's not like the seller concealed the size of the window. Personally, I don't know why OP is wasting the money on it.

[Anonymous]

My house was sold as a 4 bedroom. It’s a 3 bedroom. The realtor knew a half finished room in the unfinished basement should not count.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My house has one. We asked the inspector how it has been sold listed as a bedroom multiple times given that it clearly doesn't meet the code, and he said the house is so old it's considered "grandfathered in."

Since our room in question is in a first floor, single level addition, we're planning to cut vertically into the wall to simply put in a larger window. Annoyed that this is a cost we are taking on as the buyers, but that's onr of thr compromises we had to make in this crazy market.

Nobody forced you to buy the house. You sound ridiculous.

DP

That was unnecessary.

PP explained her situation. And said she is correcting the issue to bring the home up to code.

Nothing ridiculous about being annoyed that the house was allowed to be listed and sold for more bedrooms than it legally had.

Thanks PP! It is correct that no one forced me to buy the house. Given the options on the market and that this is a low four figure fix, we decided to just deal with it, but I'm not sure that "you bought the house so you must love EVERYTHING about it" is realistic in a low inventory market like this. We take what we can get. We can still dislike aspects.

But why is OP spending the money? You don't have to bring it up to code. If OP chooses to do so, that's on her, but it's not like the seller concealed the size of the window. Personally, I don't know why OP is wasting the money on it.

Exactly. Just because it isn’t a bedroom (no closet? Inadequate egress?) doesn’t mean it doesn’t meet code. Just call it a den and do whatever you want with it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My house has one. We asked the inspector how it has been sold listed as a bedroom multiple times given that it clearly doesn't meet the code, and he said the house is so old it's considered "grandfathered in."

Since our room in question is in a first floor, single level addition, we're planning to cut vertically into the wall to simply put in a larger window. Annoyed that this is a cost we are taking on as the buyers, but that's onr of thr compromises we had to make in this crazy market.

Nobody forced you to buy the house. You sound ridiculous.

DP

That was unnecessary.

PP explained her situation. And said she is correcting the issue to bring the home up to code.

Nothing ridiculous about being annoyed that the house was allowed to be listed and sold for more bedrooms than it legally had.

Thanks PP! It is correct that no one forced me to buy the house. Given the options on the market and that this is a low four figure fix, we decided to just deal with it, but I'm not sure that "you bought the house so you must love EVERYTHING about it" is realistic in a low inventory market like this. We take what we can get. We can still dislike aspects.

But why is OP spending the money? You don't have to bring it up to code. If OP chooses to do so, that's on her, but it's not like the seller concealed the size of the window. Personally, I don't know why OP is wasting the money on it.

Because I wanted a 3 bedroom house! I was not in the market for a 2 bedroom with a den. I would not like anyone sleeping there to be caught in a death trap in case of a fire, which is why the code requirement exists.
At the time i was buying, the others on the market that wouldn't have required the fix were either significantly more expensive (like $100k more) or required a tradeoff I deemed more important.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My house has one. We asked the inspector how it has been sold listed as a bedroom multiple times given that it clearly doesn't meet the code, and he said the house is so old it's considered "grandfathered in."

Since our room in question is in a first floor, single level addition, we're planning to cut vertically into the wall to simply put in a larger window. Annoyed that this is a cost we are taking on as the buyers, but that's onr of thr compromises we had to make in this crazy market.

Nobody forced you to buy the house. You sound ridiculous.

DP

That was unnecessary.

PP explained her situation. And said she is correcting the issue to bring the home up to code.

Nothing ridiculous about being annoyed that the house was allowed to be listed and sold for more bedrooms than it legally had.

Thanks PP! It is correct that no one forced me to buy the house. Given the options on the market and that this is a low four figure fix, we decided to just deal with it, but I'm not sure that "you bought the house so you must love EVERYTHING about it" is realistic in a low inventory market like this. We take what we can get. We can still dislike aspects.

But why is OP spending the money? You don't have to bring it up to code. If OP chooses to do so, that's on her, but it's not like the seller concealed the size of the window. Personally, I don't know why OP is wasting the money on it.

Because I wanted a 3 bedroom house! I was not in the market for a 2 bedroom with a den. I would not like anyone sleeping there to be caught in a death trap in case of a fire, which is why the code requirement exists.
At the time i was buying, the others on the market that wouldn't have required the fix were either significantly more expensive (like $100k more) or required a tradeoff I deemed more important.

OP just keeps on giving.

The house would have cost more money if it had a legal 3rd bedroom.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My house has one. We asked the inspector how it has been sold listed as a bedroom multiple times given that it clearly doesn't meet the code, and he said the house is so old it's considered "grandfathered in."

Since our room in question is in a first floor, single level addition, we're planning to cut vertically into the wall to simply put in a larger window. Annoyed that this is a cost we are taking on as the buyers, but that's onr of thr compromises we had to make in this crazy market.

Nobody forced you to buy the house. You sound ridiculous.

DP

That was unnecessary.

PP explained her situation. And said she is correcting the issue to bring the home up to code.

Nothing ridiculous about being annoyed that the house was allowed to be listed and sold for more bedrooms than it legally had.

Meh I agree that the bolded sounds kinda ridiculous. it sounds like it is up to code since it was grandfathered in and if she wants to use it as a bedroom then yes, that should be her expense. I bought a house with a similar basement bedroom that would need to be cut into to be made a bedroom with egress but this is what you do diligence before buying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My house has one. We asked the inspector how it has been sold listed as a bedroom multiple times given that it clearly doesn't meet the code, and he said the house is so old it's considered "grandfathered in."

Since our room in question is in a first floor, single level addition, we're planning to cut vertically into the wall to simply put in a larger window. Annoyed that this is a cost we are taking on as the buyers, but that's onr of thr compromises we had to make in this crazy market.

Nobody forced you to buy the house. You sound ridiculous.

DP

That was unnecessary.

PP explained her situation. And said she is correcting the issue to bring the home up to code.

Nothing ridiculous about being annoyed that the house was allowed to be listed and sold for more bedrooms than it legally had.

Thanks PP! It is correct that no one forced me to buy the house. Given the options on the market and that this is a low four figure fix, we decided to just deal with it, but I'm not sure that "you bought the house so you must love EVERYTHING about it" is realistic in a low inventory market like this. We take what we can get. We can still dislike aspects.

But why is OP spending the money? You don't have to bring it up to code. If OP chooses to do so, that's on her, but it's not like the seller concealed the size of the window. Personally, I don't know why OP is wasting the money on it.

Because I wanted a 3 bedroom house! I was not in the market for a 2 bedroom with a den. I would not like anyone sleeping there to be caught in a death trap in case of a fire, which is why the code requirement exists.
At the time i was buying, the others on the market that wouldn't have required the fix were either significantly more expensive (like $100k more) or required a tradeoff I deemed more important.

OP, if the house wasn't what you wanted, why the hell did you buy it? You act like this was forced upon you or somehow concealed from you. Did the seller put a fake window in that tricked you? Doubtful. You made the choice, live with it. Don't blame the seller. And just because the code has changed doesn't mean the room is a death trap.

Next we're going to find out OP is upset because she had to buy new smoke detectors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The new favorite in my area (Fairfax County) is realtors saying "county assessed square footage is not accurate," or something along those lines, and then adding in that the basement square footage.

Unless something has changed (in the last 6 months), below grade area of any kind has never factored into total square footage. Has something changed?

Here's a prime example of it: https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/11114-Chessington-Pl_Reston_VA_20194_M55466-24156

"Stunning four sides brick Gulick Group built Vincent model boasting over 6950 finished sq ft on three levels (tax record incorrect)."

Given that it's a subdivision with some of the exact same models all built within last 20 yrs, no effin' way the tax records are incorrect. Just absurd.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My house has one. We asked the inspector how it has been sold listed as a bedroom multiple times given that it clearly doesn't meet the code, and he said the house is so old it's considered "grandfathered in."

Since our room in question is in a first floor, single level addition, we're planning to cut vertically into the wall to simply put in a larger window. Annoyed that this is a cost we are taking on as the buyers, but that's onr of thr compromises we had to make in this crazy market.

This. That's the case for MANY things you don't find in new homes. I had a bathroom with no exhaust fan. Why? No code requirement if you have a window. Ever try to get moisture out of your bathroom in VA in July?

We have a wood burning fireplace in our MBR. Against code now.

The list goes on and on. House doesn't even have to be that old, codes change every year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The new favorite in my area (Fairfax County) is realtors saying "county assessed square footage is not accurate," or something along those lines, and then adding in that the basement square footage.

Unless something has changed (in the last 6 months), below grade area of any kind has never factored into total square footage. Has something changed?

Here's a prime example of it: https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/11114-Chessington-Pl_Reston_VA_20194_M55466-24156

"Stunning four sides brick Gulick Group built Vincent model boasting over 6950 finished sq ft on three levels (tax record incorrect)."

Given that it's a subdivision with some of the exact same models all built within last 20 yrs, no effin' way the tax records are incorrect. Just absurd.

Tax records are often incorrect because they're an estimate based on external dimensions.