NWR: Basement Apt

NWR: Basement Apt

FH and I looked at a basement apt recently that seemed to really be great. Can you girls give me any pros or cons to renting in a basement? Thanks so much

Re: NWR: Basement Apt

They aren't legal.

Re: NWR: Basement Apt

well, I don't have a personal experiance but a good friend of mine rented a basement apt for about a year & really didn't like it. The basement is where the homeowners kept their washer/dryer (that they all shared) in a spare room but that room off to the side that was attatched to my friend's apt. On several occasions, while she was home she became freaked out b/c she would hear them coming downstairs to do laundry- she felt like she didn't have privacy. I don't remember any other issues though.

Re: NWR: Basement Apt

all of them?

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we are moving into FH parents basement for a while so we can save some $. I really dont see anything bad with it. Its just an apartment, and you wont be there forever. thats how im looking at it. Good Luck!

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I lived in my parent's basement for years growing up. I came to feel like I was living in a dungeon-you can't really see outside (except for the liitle windows up at the ceiling). Mildew becomes a factor and you NEED a dehumidifier for this-which means also having to empty the big water resevoir every few days. On the upside they usually are cheaper than a non-basement apartment.

Re: NWR: Basement Apt

I sent ya an FM.

Here is some things I found.


Bellrose NYC Really old article Newer Article in Newsday

HTH

Re: NWR: Basement Apt

Well FH and I's first apt was a basement apartment. I found that the air quality was not that good. The plumbing seemed to back up freuqently until one day a pipe burst which happened to be in my closet and ruined all my clothes. The Landlords monitored our heating use and in the winter it was REALLY cold. We couldnt park in the driveway and we couldnt get mail delivered to the address because it was illegal. We compared it to living with our parents. It was awful and we ended up breaking the lease after 5 months. Now we live in an apartment complex that includes heat and hot water and is only about $100 more a month in rent than that basement apt. Really research it before you commit, because it may have just been our experience but I would never rent a basement apt again.

Re: NWR: Basement Apt

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Re: NWR: Basement Apt

The legality of the apartment depends upon how many entrances are the size of the windows in the apartment. An apartment must have two entrances and the window needs to be a certain size for daylight. My ex lived in a studio basement apartment. It was an illegal apartment. It was ok for a single guy living alone but there was hardly any privacy (we could hear them upstairs and they could hear us). Now a walk-in is very different from a basement apartment. Most walk-in apartments are legal because they are half above ground and half under ground. If you are getting a good deal, you should check out the apartment and make sure that there are two exits and you get enough sunlight. Also basements are notorious for bugs (no matter how clean you are) so take that into consideration too. Hope this helps. FM me if you need any more info.

Re: NWR: Basement Apt

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hey steph! I think if you like it, go for it! If this is a temporary solution and its fairly inexpensive, you cant go wrong..

But if youre looking to stay there for several years, you might want to find something above ground for your sanity

Re: NWR: Basement Apt

FH and I live in a basement apartment right now. It's a really nice apartment, much better than all of the above ground apartments we saw. It's spacious, clean, private, and we get our mail. Our landlords are great. They're barely home and they say they never hear us when they are. We have surround sound too, so the fact that they don't hear us is great. We are planning to move after the wedding though because FH needs somehwere he can keep his work truck. The negatives are it's dark so the lights practically always have to be on (which is something I hate) and there are bugs no matter how clean you keep the apartment. They're usually the rolly polly bugs. I'm going to be sad to leave my bathroom though. It's huge and so beautiful.

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Posted by Lola0703

FH and I currently live in a basement apt and it's fine. It's clean and cozy!!!! We lucked out because some can feel like your in a dungeon. We get a good amount of sunlight as well. So far we have had no problems. We can get our mail delivered there and we took out tenants insurance in case of flooding (floods usually happen in basements).

I am not saying I can stay there forever for now it's affordable until we buy something in like a year or so.

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Girl you are married Now..........

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I lived in a Basement Apt. for 15 years. One of the pros was that on hot days it's alway cooler in a Basement. I had no major problems....

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Re: NWR: Basement Apt

It depends, becuase I live in Bellmore in a legal basement apartment. There's actually a bunch in the area. It's a legal 3 family house. Each have our own boiler, hw tank, thermostat..etc.
You don't really feel like your in a basement in ours. The windows are much larger, etc.
It is cooler in the summer, which is nice.

HOWEVER.. I would NEVER EVER rent a basement apartment again.

Thank heavens the people above us moved out the beginning of this month. Don't get me wrong I love children but not when they are running around at 6am, or 11pm.. or when you have a splitting headache and your trying to take a nap..and all you hear is BOOM BOOM BOOM... ok sorry that was a vent....

If you know the people have children above you, I would search for another where there is an older couple who won't be too loud.