Are you considering renovating your basement to facilitate a secondary suite within your home? When done correctly, secondary suites can be a fantastic use of extra space, as well as a valuable source of income for wise investors. The City of Edmonton has strict rules as to what constitutes a legal dwelling, making it crucial for any interested homeowners to stay on top of regulations prior to beginning construction. Below is a quick rundown of things you’ll need to keep in mind if you’re planning on moving ahead.
What Constitutes A Legal Secondary Suite?
The City of Edmonton defines secondary suites as a “separate dwelling located inside a single detached, semi-detached, duplex, or row house with its own cooking, sleeping and bathroom facilities, as well as utilities.” Secondary suites must have a separate entrance from the rest of the house, and are created through the conversion or development of a basement or other interior space.
If you or someone you know are contemplating the creation of a secondary suite, it is imperative that you take some time to familiarize yourself with the rules and regulations that the government has in place. Failure to do so can lead to costly fines, delays in construction, and your suite being barred from renting until guidelines are adhered to. The city is more vigilant than ever when it comes to cracking down on unregistered or improperly maintained suites; don’t make the mistake of thinking you won’t get caught!
What Do You Need To Know?
First and foremost, while secondary suites can be a valuable investment for savvy property owners, you’ll want to consider how quickly you need to make a profit before embarking down the construction road. The reality of creating a livable suite in your basement is that such renovations do take time, and often, considerable upfront investment . From installing key features like a separate entrance, sufficient fire separation, soundproofing, separate utilities and egress windows, the initial construction phase can take a longer period than many homeowners initially anticipate. The good news is, if you’ve working with a qualified contractor that has taken into account the additional challenges of rental suites (i.e. suitable furnishings that can cope with wear and tear), your secondary suite should be built to last for years to come.
How Can I Get Started?
First, you’ll want to see if your home qualifies to have a secondary suite on the premises. You can do so by doing a preliminary search at maps.edmonton.ca and search within the zoning section. From there, you’ll want to get into contact with an experienced renovation team and ensure you can secure the appropriate documents to move forward. Once you have those in hand, design and development can get under way!
Discover The Peak Improvements Difference
At Peak Improvements, we believe that creating your dream home should never be a hassle. From transforming tired rooms to developing flawless suites for entrepreneurial owners, our team follows a proven six-stage renovation process to guarantee success on every project. Combined with our guaranteed price, no surprise contract, our process means homeowners can trust us to always have their best interests and picture perfect results in mind!
