All Forum Posts by: Michelle Boyle

My family recently purchased a Multi-unit in Chicago (our first). The basement unit was unrented but had two bedrooms, a kitchen and bath already in place. We wanted to make the space a lot nicer to rent to a family member or use as our own dwelling. We did spend quite a bit of money on the unit assuming that if we lived in the unit, or a family member did, it would be fine and within the city rules. Wellllll... we received an unexpected visit from a city building inspector while we had a painter at work. Then all of our plans came crashing down.

Long story short, we have a court date with the city and have been told by our city permits rep that NO ONE can live in an illegal dwelling unit. Not the owner (us) not a family member- No one!!! We were shocked by this information and now do not know what to do with this beautiful space!  We are being told we need to now either DECONVERT or DUPLEX it to make things right with the city.

Question:  Do we deconvert and call it all a complete loss? Do we duplex to salvage all the work completed (spend more $ on it)?

Question:  Can we rent this space out AS IS as office space? Can we rent AS IS as Airbnb?

Help!!!!!!!! Has anyone been stuck here?  Really need your help; thank you and God bless.