Renting out apt with access to living space in basement.

[Alexander D Marchena]

Good morning BP, My name is Alex I own a four family in Elizabeth NJ. I currently have a tenant moving out of a two bedroom apt. That apartment has stairs case going into a room in the basement, the staircase was sealed off by the previous owner to make illegal apt in the basement. I evicted all tenants in the basement prior to closing, now I am thinking of opening that stair way to the basement (a room that was used as an apt that has a separate entrance) and advertising it as added living space to the two bedroom apartment.

***Any thoughts on this? I would not advertise the space in the basement as a bedroom, but rather "livable space".