Au Pair - legal bedroom

[Anonymous]

Can an au pair have a room in the basement with no windows? It's a nice room just no windows so it's not technically a legal bedroom. She would also have her own bathroom and a door to the outside down the hall from the bedroom. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

No.

[Anonymous]

Yes she can. Many do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes she can. Many do it.

Agencies are not allowed to agree to that. It's illegal. But who cares about that, huh?

[Anonymous]

I agree that some do it (put them in a room with no window), but if you want to follow the rules, technically there needs to be a window, and I believe it must be such that it can be used as an Egress in the case of a fire. Meaning, it opens, and she could realistically exit the building through it.

[Anonymous]

I would suggest asking. I'm a live-in nanny, and I would much, much rather have a basement bedroom away from kids than have a legal bedroom right next to the kids.

[Anonymous]

Legally no.

Anecdotally, some agencies/LCCs care about this. Others look the other way.

[Anonymous]

Is there anyway you can put a window in? You might also have to check with your town ordinance regarding this. Even though I would not feel safe if it is legal than I assume you could do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would suggest asking. I'm a live-in nanny, and I would much, much rather have a basement bedroom away from kids than have a legal bedroom right next to the kids.

Ask whom exactly??

[Anonymous]

No, this is not legal. One of my friends intended to offer her AP the choice of a basement with this set-up or a room on the same floor as the family. The LCC said she could not offer this option and could only house the AP in the upstairs room.

[Anonymous]

We've been told no. There has to be two points of egress for safety reasons.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Legally no.

Anecdotally, some agencies/LCCs care about this. Others look the other way.

Shame on agencies allowing illegal setups like that!!

[Anonymous]

If the agencies don't enforce the legal bedroom requirement, what's to stop you giving her a large closet for a room? A bed in your kid's room? The couch? If you don't want people to rage against this program, at least PRETEND to give a shit about the rules.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If the agencies don't enforce the legal bedroom requirement, what's to stop you giving her a large closet for a room? A bed in your kid's room? The couch? If you don't want people to rage against this program, at least PRETEND to give a shit about the rules.

We do. This is why the vast majority of us who have responded have said no, it's not legal and not to do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is there anyway you can put a window in? You might also have to check with your town ordinance regarding this. Even though I would not feel safe if it is legal than I assume you could do it.

I would look into this as well. It may increase your home value too.