| Posted By |
Message |
amazonbunny
LIF Infant
Member since 8/13 97 total posts
Name:
|
When Renting an apt in house...
What are the top 5 questions to ask the landlord?
Do you take the landlord's ID info?
How do you check to make sure the landlord owns the home?
DH and I are now looking to rent an apartment and I would like it to be all inclusive so buildings are a no. I know what should be stated in the lease and also know to get renter's insurance. Any tips/advice would be very helpful.
TIA!
|
Posted 11/29/13 2:37 PM  |
| |
|
Prudential Douglas Elliman Real Estate
Long Island's Largest Bridal Resource | Long Island Weddings |
nferrandi
too excited for words
Member since 10/05 18538 total posts
Name:
Nicole
|
Re: When Renting an apt in house...
If the utilities are included that usually means the apartment is not legal. I'm pretty sure you have to have separate utilities to be legal.
|
| Posted 11/29/13 3:08 PM |
| |
|
2boys1girl
and one more girl on the way!
Member since 5/10 2954 total posts
Name:
D
|
When Renting an apt in house...
You can also call the town or some websites have an option to do a search I know Brookhaven Town does to find out if there is a legal rental permit in place for the apartment.
|
| Posted 11/29/13 3:34 PM |
| |
|
Domino
Always My Miracle
Member since 9/05 9923 total posts
Name:
|
Re: When Renting an apt in house...
For the past 8 years we have rented. Only our very first apartment was in someone's house. I never asked for ID from a landlord. The questions would depend on what is important for you. For us it usually was:
Do you have a pet policy?
Does the apartment have yard usage?
Where would you want us to park?
Could we have laundry priviledges?
Can we paint?
While our first landlord was nice and accomodating, living in someone's small tiny apartment got old fast. After that one, we wound up renting coops. Even 8 years later, our rent for a two bedroom coop is less than our first apartment 
|
| Posted 11/29/13 10:01 PM |
| |
|
MrsG823
Just call me Mommy.
Member since 1/11 5570 total posts
Name:
S
|
When Renting an apt in house...
It is important yo find out if the apartment is legal. If not you could be forced to move out if the landlord is ever reported to the building department.
|
| Posted 11/29/13 11:21 PM |
| |
|
Domino
Always My Miracle
Member since 9/05 9923 total posts
Name:
|
Re: When Renting an apt in house...
Posted by MrsG823
It is important yo find out if the apartment is legal. If not you could be forced to move out if the landlord is ever reported to the building department.
And, I speak to Babylon Village, you personally can be fined for renting an illegal apartment.
|
| Posted 11/29/13 11:53 PM |
| |
|
|
|
Re: When Renting an apt in house...
Posted by nferrandi
If the utilities are included that usually means the apartment is not legal. I'm pretty sure you have to have separate utilities to be legal.
Just fyi - In order to be classified as a legal two (or multi) family home, yes, you need separate utilities (e.g., separate electric meter).
However, accessory apartments can be legal in one family homes. In Nassau, they are fairly uncommon. I know in Nassau, there are legal accessory apartments for seniors (over age 62)... they can apply to have a legal apartment within their home if certain requirements are met.
In many areas of Suffolk, you can have legal apartments by permit. I have rented apartments in one family homes, but I put the permit number on the listing (the permits periodically expire and need to be reissued). But you can always ask to see the permit, get a copy, etc. to verify.
But with legal accessory apartments in a single family home, all utilities are often included (or at least heat and water, and sometimes the electric bill is split, but there is no separate electric meter).
Many buildings include heat and water in the rent, and you would only be paying electric and incidentals (cable, internet, etc.).
|
| Posted 11/30/13 1:29 PM |
| |
|
amazonbunny
LIF Infant
Member since 8/13 97 total posts
Name:
|
When Renting an apt in house...
Thank you all for the replies. DH and I are under a very stressful/depressing situation and we just need to move out of our family's home. I'm trying to just stay positive and calm and not rush into anything so I've been trying to gather info before jumping.
The best option is to get a LEGAL apartment b/c we plan on staying in NY for the next 3 years and I don't want to deal with legal drama.
I will definitely be looking into legal accessory apartments AND buildings now that I know heat/water could be included (and it's good to know that I can request a permit for homes).
Again, thank you all for the help.
|
| Posted 11/30/13 6:23 PM |
| |
|
tara73
carseat nerd
Member since 11/09 3669 total posts
Name:
Buttercup
|
When Renting an apt in house...
We rented an apartment in Brightwaters that we paid electric but our cooking gas, heat and hot water were included. I knew nothing about illegal apartments and the whole issue of permits until I moved to Long Island. We had a really hard time finding a place in a private home that was legal since at the time, most of the legal apartments seemed to be handled by real estate agents and that will cost you another month's fee to them (another thing that was new to me, here in CT and in MA, the fee is paid by the LL)
|
| Posted 12/2/13 8:28 PM |
| |
|
|
|
Re: When Renting an apt in house...
Basements and garages also tend to be illegal for obvious reasons.
There are also "neighbors" on LI who will call the town constantly and harass you directly if they suspect you are living in an illegal dwelling.
I've known people like this.
Good luck with your search. I know it's tough out there.
|
| Posted 12/3/13 5:31 AM |
| |
|
