Other than being a cool feature to a home, there are many practical advantages a basement offers including a more secured space, maximized space on a smaller footprint, safer rooms amidst extreme weather e.g., hurricanes and tornadoes, and cooler spots even during the summer season.
Building a basement on the other hand has its legal requirements, at least in certain places in Canada. Basements for example in Ontario require a building permit and there are zoning codes a building must meet to be allowed to have a basement such as the building being at least 5 years old. Hence, legal basement renovations service is offered to help you avoid trouble.
What Is a Legal Basement in Canada?
“Legal Basements” in Canada are spaces that are built as an extension or secondary unit of an existing house/ building which is usually rented out by the owner/landlord to a tenant. The following is the list of requirements to legalize a basement.
Legal Basement in Ontario
- Minimum of 145 square feet of space
- The ceiling height must be 1.95 meters minimum
- Living area space should have at least 5% window occupancy and 2.5% for bedrooms.
- Hot and cold water, sink, kitchen sink, and laundry access
- The ventilation and electrical system have been approved by an Electrical Safety Authority electrician.
- 30 minutes of fire separation between the basement and the main unit
- Emergency exit
Legal Basement in Quebec
- Egress window required
- Egress window size should be spacious enough for a child and adult to climb through
- Egress window should be open and free passage without anti-intrusion bars
There are lots of specific requirements that must be met in order for a basement to be legally built, added, or altered. These may vary depending on your location, but it will always be a bucket of things to handle.
Worry not because there are lots of great legal basement renovation services offered in different locations that will surely ease things out for you
What Are the Pros and Cons of Legal Basement?
Before we lay out our list of legal basement renovation services, you might want to weigh the costs and benefits of renovating your building and having a legal basement. It is indeed an investment; however, it costs quite a lot as well and some risks come hand in hand, especially in terms of having a border.
| PROS | CONS |
| ● Source of Income ● Increases the value of your property ● Adds an attractive feature to your home/ property ● Advantageous for the owner when it comes to real estate listing due to its aesthetic addition | ● Costs quite an amount due to taxes, permits, setup costs, and construction ● Privacy might be compromised ● Risks of having a tenant who does not pay on time ● Tenants who are not good at housekeeping (or basic home/space care) |
While there are equal points for pros and cons, it is crucial to assess whether the disadvantages can outweigh the advantages. Person management is a challenge when it comes to being a landlord. The best option is to be picky when selecting who will rent your legal basement as unlike other apartments or rental spaces, a legal basement is a part of your residence.
Still interested? Then we have a shortlist of who to call for legal basement renovation services that might be near you.
Here are some factors to look out for when choosing/ accepting legal basement renovation service offers.
Advisory and Quote Service
To those who wish to get a basement constructed, it is important to choose a company that will help you get a quote from different contractors. This will give you options so you can weigh your budget, as well as receive advice on what actions and steps are vital to process and legalize your legal basement renovation. For example, you can do this with CSG Renovation company.
Value Proposition/ Working with Pros
Some legal basement renovation service companies take great pride with their designs, and competitive pricing.
It is fundamentally important that a legal basement renovation service offers to help you with the permits and protocols required in your area, however, it is equally crucial to select a company that offers designs that are on par with your taste. Many companies maintain a gallery or portfolio on their website to exhibit previous projects for future client reference.
Legalization of Existing Basement
Do you already have an existing basement? Then you might want to look for something unique. There are legal basement renovation service companies who not only assist with getting quotes from contractors, or giving ideas to construct a basement, but also offer to help legalize your existing basement that originally does not get past the requirements. Loans are also offered in some cases as an assistance to this legalization service.
Final Thoughts on Legal Basement Renovation Service
Building legal basements looks to offer a high percentage of Return on Investment nowadays. Investments are always risky, and it is the price for the chance of getting a return. Legal basement renovation services play a key role not only in that they assist in legalizing and renovating your basement but they help reduce safety risks both for the landlord and the tenant as well. Following the safety protocols in the process of gathering permits, and being able to work with professionals, contractors, and talented architects will make the most value out of what you will pay. So, if you are looking at having a basement done, make sure to get a legal basement renovation service.
short url:
