Ask the Architect

It’s just my family downstairs

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Q. I got a notice on my door that a building inspector wants to inspect my home. The notice had a lot of numbers, and if I read it right, it says I have an illegal two-family house, which isn’t true. My son lives in my basement with his son. After his divorce, he came to me, but he’s family, so I don’t think that’s a second family. There’s a refrigerator and a counter, but no cooking. I don’t want trouble. I just want my son to get back on his feet and feel confident he can be independent again. Is that so unreasonable, and do I have to let the inspector in? I feel it’s an invasion of my privacy.

A. You make a good case for helping your son. Everyone wants and deserves to do what’s best, for family and personal reasons. The No. 1 purpose that building inspections serve is public safety. Many people feel picked on or singled out when they’re just trying to get by, and resent a neighbor who they feel is bullying them by reporting the activity. Worst of all is the possibility that a disaster takes place, but because it happens, and we hear about lives lost every day, we have to be vigilant and watch out for each other.

Many municipalities restrict use of basements as sleeping space, for safety and (even though they won’t admit it) “social” reasons. We live in an era when our next generation does not, or will not, statistically, have the same or a better standard of living than their parents. Several economic conditions have contributed to this phenomenon. College education costs rose 6,000 percent over the past 30 years, homes, 1,000 percent or more, as have transportation and even food and clothing. Several things would need to change to make it possible for your basement living conditions to be acceptable, and I doubt they will happen soon enough to solve the generational crisis local lawmakers and code writers would need to face.

More than likely, your home, like most, is made of highly combustible materials, ones that burn easily and give occupants or rescuers little chance to survive in extremes. Homes engulf in minutes, so non-flammable construction needs to be mandated. Current escape requirements should be applied, like second stairwells, large windows a child could open and exit through, higher ceilings to allow smoke to gather (high enough so escape is possible), flame-retardant finishes that are less toxic, and fire extinguishing systems. If all this sounds like an apartment building description, then you now have a better idea why your living arrangement presents problems to code officials and fire rescuers. For now, you should try to comply. Plans and a permit application are needed. Try to find an alternative to get sleeping and cooking out of the basement if you can, and petition for change. Good luck!

© 2016 Monte Leeper. Readers are encouraged to send questions to yourhousedr@aol.com, with “Herald question” in the subject line, or to Herald Homes, 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, NY 11530, Attn: Monte Leeper, architect.