Investor · Austin, TX · Member since 2016 · 531 posts · 310 votes
Hi! I own a triplex in Ewing, NJ. The previous owner at one point in time turned the basement into his home while in the middle of a divorce. He built a bathroom and a bedroom. Its not entirely finished, but if I finished the basement it can be a one bed one bath unit. How do I go about making it a legal Quadplex? Who do I go talk to about this?
@Antonio Cucciniello You might find your answer here. Google showed something on basement units but I'm having problems pulling it up. https://ecode360.com/12144997
@Antonio Cucciniello First it varies from town to town. If you do a search on here about occupied basements NJ you'll see a lot of info. In short, it can be very difficult to not happening to it can be done but $$$. Again biggest thing is how the town is. At minimum you'll need permits and a variance from the town to convert from 2 plex to 3 plex.
Your other option is to rent out the 1st floor and basement together as one whole unit.
Sorry you meant it is a 3 plex and want to turn it into a 4 plex. My answer still remains. Personally the easiest way is to rent the basement and the first floor together and charge more rent.
Thanks for the answer! Currently two of the units can access the basement through doors that are locked. So overall, it might be able to be done, but it will be expensive?
@Antonio Cucciniello From what on the forums I've seen expensive being on permits and town side aka getting them to approve a 3 to 4 unit change. Sometimes they'll flat out tell you no. I have a finished basement and I rent out the basement and first floor as one unit together, which is an increased rent charge than just having one floor. Turns my 2 bedroom 1 bath into a 3/2 (I have a permitted full bath in the basement). Per my city, I put into the lease that there is no living space in the basement (beds) and no subleasing the basement (I'm strict on no subleasing). If they happen to put one of their family members in the basement a la mother in law suite, that is on them.
@Antonio Cucciniello You might find your answer here. Google showed something on basement units but I'm having problems pulling it up. https://ecode360.com/12144997
@Mark F. Just went through that link thank you. I found this: "Habitable areas. No dwelling unit shall be located within a basement or cellar nor above the second floor of any apartment development." So it seems like its not possible, but what I can do is add the basement as part of one unit like you said, or maybe open up the basement for storage space as I have done with the garage.
@Antonio Cucciniello I saw that too. Yeah it sucks as obviously you'd get more money as a separate unit than all one unit but NJ doesn't like basement units very much.