×

Illegal rentals

Illegal rentals are surprisingly common – especially in major cities like New York and San Francisco, which face an everlasting housing shortage. These dwellings typically come in the form of basement rooms, cellars, attics and garages, which might not provide for adequate light and ventilation or for proper exits in the event of a fire, and thus may not meet city housing codes.

Modal Trigger Photo: ShutterstockMore home and apartment owners began renting out their extra rooms after the economy tanked, says Jeff Cronrod, a founder and board member of the American Apartment Owners Association.

“Tenants are scrambling for the least expensive thing they can find and homeowners are trying to save their home, so they’re renting out a room or their garage.”

But a tenant who rents an illegal apartment has fewer opportunities for recourse if something goes awry, since landlords of illegal dwellings aren’t supposed to be collecting rent in the first place.

The most reliable way to find out whether a space can legally be rented out is to contact a locality’s building safety department and pull records, which are sometimes available online.

“Literally go back and count the units,” Conrad says. “If it’s permitted to be 15 units and there’s 16 there, then it’s bootleg.”

Paul Hamilton

Williamsport

Submitted by Virtual Newsroom

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today