Has anyone had issues w/ M/D/rental apts?

As stated in my previous post DH & I are looking for a house w/ a M/D option or an accessory apt....we wanted to know your experience.....

Any issues w/ the town?
How much do the permits cost?
Was it difficult to transfer ownership from old owner?
How did you go about getting renters?
Anyone have problems if you don't have the permits/illegal apt (basement, etc.)?

Thanks so much.

Re: Has anyone had issues w/ M/D/rental apts?

hi cindy,

i'm not trying to scare you, but we had an ENORMOUS amount of trouble evicting my grandfather's tenant. he destroyed the place and didn't pay rent for the last few months. it was terrible.

besides that, he was a pretty decent tenant for 8 years...until my grandpa died.

this was an illegal M/D, but tenants have rights that at times supercede that of the owners no one should be able to refuse to pay rent, not allow the owner into their own home and refuse to leave.

definitely look into the rights of the tenant in the town you're going to buy in and only get a LEGAL M/D. renting part of your house to good tenants can be a wonderful financial experience, but if you get a bad tenant...

Re: Has anyone had issues w/ M/D/rental apts?

My parents have a M/D which doesn't have the proper permits and that is how they bought the house over 22 years ago. As for issues my grandparents have always lived with us (first my dads parents then my mom's) so it has always been family and has not been a problem on the tenants end. As for the town--they had a few problems in teh beginning when they bought it--the town was harassing them to get into our house and inspect it. My parents refused to let them in and eventually they went away. I believe once they had to let them in after my parents redid the entire house because the original builder didn't build the house to code--when they let them in they removed the kitchen counter to make it look like there was no sink and after they left they but the counter/sink back. It really does depend on teh town you are living in and what type of tenants you have.

Re: Has anyone had issues w/ M/D/rental apts?

M/D permits are not transferable. if you purchase a home that has current permits, that permit will terminate when they sell. you will have to get a new permit for yourselves and you will only qualify if you can prove its a family member living with you.

Re: Has anyone had issues w/ M/D/rental apts?

My good friend had an illegal basement apartment when she first moved into her house. They rented it out to a single guy who worked a lot of hours so he wasn't home much, didn't have a girlfriend, didn't really have people over. But she was worried all the time that someone would report her, so after 2 years he decided to move closer to work and they chose to renovate it into a playroom and family room.

Re: Has anyone had issues w/ M/D/rental apts?

We were looking for the same thing when we were house hunting.... we were quickly surprised to hear how many people had problems with their neighbors.........they were turning them in for having illegal apartments.... so keep that in mind when searching... ask the home owners if other neighbors on the block have apartments too