All Forum Posts by: Michael Lettieri

How do I verify if a Jersey City basement apartment is legal and recognized by the City?

The building I’m evaluating has a certificate of inspection from the state of NJ (green card) which says it has 4 units. My concern is that the City doesn’t recognize the basement apartment. So how can I confirm that the building is 4-family and not 3-family? How do I check that the basement apartment meets the city’s building code standards?

@Jonathan Kim it’s legal but you still need to get all the permits. Check with the local building inspector to understand the permit process.

My tenant wants to move out a month early. They are giving me 2 months’ notice. They’ve been good tenants. What does everyone else do in this situation? Should I let them out of the lease a month early? If not how should I let them down easy that they need to pay the last month?

I bought a 2-family home in Jersey City. The basement used to be its own apartment (1 BR & 1 BA) connected to the first floor but it's own space (or a 'Bonus Unit'). The heating and electrical are all working. There are rough-ins for a bathroom and kitchen. I believe everything was ripped out because of a flood at one point. My plan was to turn this into an AirBnB rental. This way I would not have to get a variance for a 3-family home, I could keep the main unit for myself and don't have to rent illegally. 

I'm running into issues because I still need to meet code but the ceiling height is too short. Code calls for minimum 7'-6" ceiling but I only have 7'-1". Code also calls for no obstructions less than 6'-6" however I have a support beam that is at 6'-4".

Does anyone have any experience with basement units in Jersey City that have dealt with these issues? Should I apply for a ceiling height variance? Is that even possible to get? Any insights would be appreciated.

@Enrique Kratz have you considered more affordable neighborhoods around NYC? I moved to Journal Square in Jersey City.

I am renovating my rental kitchen. I started out by getting quotes from Home Depot and Lowe's. However, the cost of labor seems to be too high. I don't think there is anything that complicated with assembling and installing cabinets so I plan to do it myself. Does anyone recommend an online store to order from (Direct to consumer type). I am just looking for cheap and durable cabinets. Thank you for any recommendations.

Thank you for the help. I also have an option to add a second level to the apartment and create a duplex. Would I be able to double the rent if I am doubling the the square footage? Go from 1200 SF to 2400 SF. 

@Catherine Emert thank you. What do you think about adding a second bathroom? It would be an en-suite.

@Catherine Emert thank you. That is what I am seeing in the market. I assumed incorrectly that rent was also based on number of rooms.

I have a 1200 SF unit in Jersey City, NJ. I am trying to maximize rent for this unit. It currently has a 3 BR & 1 BA layout. It has the potential to become a 4 BR and 2 BA unit. Does taking space away from the unit's common area to create an additional bathroom and bedroom increase rental income? I thought that creating a 4th bedroom would increase rent but I can't find evidence of this in the market. I also assume that a second bathroom would increase rent but I'm not sure if it is worth the headache of going through the permit and approval process. Any feedback would be appreciated.