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Illegal apartment rentals.

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2boys4me
He's coming soon!

Member since 4/10

4260 total posts

Name:

Re: Illegal apartment rentals.

Posted by ISpoilHim

I am only trying to understand.
People keep mentioning the extra taxes for a rental apartment. What extra taxes are there? If the reference is to additional services needed for the home (ie trash removal) what is the difference between a home with parents and 1 adult child vs. a home with a couple and 1 renter. The services needed by the town would be the same. You don't pay property taxes based on the # of people living in the home. The number of cars would be the same.

I do understand the safety issue presented with overcrowded homes but it doesn't have to be an illegal rental to be overcrowded.

I think that on Long Island there tends to be a negative stigma associated with renting in general - regardless of if you are renter or landlord and legal or illegal.



We had the superintendent speak at a civic association event about two years ago explaining how illegal apartments are putting a strain on the school district and how the taxes thing comes into play. We rent a house. It's my husband, my two children and myself. Our rent pays the mortgage which pays the taxes for ONE family...our two boys should we choose to use the district. Say our landlord split this house into two apartments, which is what is occurring around our village, and we lived on the bottom floor with our two kids and a family with two or three kids moved upstairs. Our landlord is still paying the same amount for his mortgage and the same amount in taxes as he would if it was just us but now there are 4-5 kids in the house using the school district. That wouldn't be so bad if it was just one or two houses in the district doing this BUT in our district this situation has skyrocketed within the last 5 years but it's more like 3-4 families with about 7-10 kids living in one house and it's happening all over the district so now the district is facing huge issues. There has been a huge influx of students within a short period of time and there is no space for them all to go. We are short on teachers. Most of these new students are Spanish speaking and require ESL services and sometimes they are behind depending on the country they came from so they require other services as well like resource room, extra help, etc. Since the homes that they live in are only paying one families worth of taxes on a house with 3-4 families in it, the district isn't financially prepared to pay for new teachers and to expand the buildings to fit all these students. They can't even afford to make the repairs on the buildings they already have. So what are they suppose to do?

As a renter on Long Island, I totally get why these people rent illegal apartments. We are in our late 20's with two boys and neither of us were able to live at home until we got married to save for a house like a lot of other people can so we had no choice but to be renters and with the cost of renting even the tiniest place makes it impossible to save for a home which is what we want, to be homeowners, more than anything in the world. We are also both educated, responsible people who work very hard and finding a job that pays enough to not only own a home but for us...just to pay rent, bills, and groceries, is nearly impossible.

I get both sides. We aren't renting an illegal apartment, we have a whole house to rent and barely make it but if we couldn't afford this then we would have to live somewhere right? Also, I get why homeowners do it as well. When mg stepdad was alive he had a home in Massapequa Park that had a basement apartment that he didnt rent out at first, it was our playroom growing up but then he got sick and had a lot of medical bills and had to pay for them somehow. He got sick after the market tanked and he was underwater in his mortgage. He tried to refy but was denied and he couldnt sell for soemthing smaller like you all are suggesting. He had no choice but to rent his apartment out to pay for his medicine and dr bills. I don't know what the answer is for either side. It's such a sad situation here on the island.

Posted 4/21/14 9:25 AM
 
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ISpoilHim
I think I got this

Member since 11/10

1523 total posts

Name:
K

Re: Illegal apartment rentals.

Posted by 2boys4me

Posted by ISpoilHim

I am only trying to understand.
People keep mentioning the extra taxes for a rental apartment. What extra taxes are there? If the reference is to additional services needed for the home (ie trash removal) what is the difference between a home with parents and 1 adult child vs. a home with a couple and 1 renter. The services needed by the town would be the same. You don't pay property taxes based on the # of people living in the home. The number of cars would be the same.

I do understand the safety issue presented with overcrowded homes but it doesn't have to be an illegal rental to be overcrowded.

I think that on Long Island there tends to be a negative stigma associated with renting in general - regardless of if you are renter or landlord and legal or illegal.



We had the superintendent speak at a civic association event about two years ago explaining how illegal apartments are putting a strain on the school district and how the taxes thing comes into play. We rent a house. It's my husband, my two children and myself. Our rent pays the mortgage which pays the taxes for ONE family...our two boys should we choose to use the district. Say our landlord split this house into two apartments, which is what is occurring around our village, and we lived on the bottom floor with our two kids and a family with two or three kids moved upstairs. Our landlord is still paying the same amount for his mortgage and the same amount in taxes as he would if it was just us but now there are 4-5 kids in the house using the school district. That wouldn't be so bad if it was just one or two houses in the district doing this BUT in our district this situation has skyrocketed within the last 5 years but it's more like 3-4 families with about 7-10 kids living in one house and it's happening all over the district so now the district is facing huge issues. There has been a huge influx of students within a short period of time and there is no space for them all to go. We are short on teachers. Most of these new students are Spanish speaking and require ESL services and sometimes they are behind depending on the country they came from so they require other services as well like resource room, extra help, etc. Since the homes that they live in are only paying one families worth of taxes on a house with 3-4 families in it, the district isn't financially prepared to pay for new teachers and to expand the buildings to fit all these students. They can't even afford to make the repairs on the buildings they already have. So what are they suppose to do?

As a renter on Long Island, I totally get why these people rent illegal apartments. We are in our late 20's with two boys and neither of us were able to live at home until we got married to save for a house like a lot of other people can so we had no choice but to be renters and with the cost of renting even the tiniest place makes it impossible to save for a home which is what we want, to be homeowners, more than anything in the world. We are also both educated, responsible people who work very hard and finding a job that pays enough to not only own a home but for us...just to pay rent, bills, and groceries, is nearly impossible.

I get both sides. We aren't renting an illegal apartment, we have a whole house to rent and barely make it but if we couldn't afford this then we would have to live somewhere right? Also, I get why homeowners do it as well. When mg stepdad was alive he had a home in Massapequa Park that had a basement apartment that he didnt rent out at first, it was our playroom growing up but then he got sick and had a lot of medical bills and had to pay for them somehow. He got sick after the market tanked and he was underwater in his mortgage. He tried to refy but was denied and he couldnt sell for soemthing smaller like you all are suggesting. He had no choice but to rent his apartment out to pay for his medicine and dr bills. I don't know what the answer is for either side. It's such a sad situation here on the island.



I get the school taxes thing. But I am questioning if the apartment is being rented to a single person vs a large family residing in the same house. Suppose I have 5 kids. Well, I don't pay more for my 5 kids to go to school vs. the family that has no children or 1 child in school.

The stigma surrounding renting is not just for illegal apartments. We rented in a legal apartment complex when we were first married. When people found out we rented, we always got that look. Always got asked when are you going to buy a house. Honestly, now that we own a house, I wish we could go back to renting. Life was so much easier then.

I know several people who have apartments in their homes that they rent out. They don't do it because they want to. They do it because they have to. But they also have tenants that are older, single people and there are no school district needs.

Posted 4/21/14 9:42 AM
 

LiveandLearn
LIF Adult

Member since 4/10

1586 total posts

Name:

Re: Illegal apartment rentals.

Posted by MorningCuppaCoffee

Posted by MegZee

Posted by afternoondelight828

Posted by lynnd126

Unless it's some extreme situation I think you should mind your own business.



I don't really know how someone even knows if it is legal or illegal?



In brookhaven you can search online for rental permits.

I live near stony brook and it's becoming a huge problem.



Doesn't this have to do with them renting out houses to tons of college students? I thought I read an article about this.....



Yes. I know two people who are now selling in SB because of this. I don't think that what they are doing is illegal (a developer bought the houses and are renting them out). The issue is more 8 college aged students living in one house (cars coming and going at all times, noise, properties not being maintained, etc.)

Posted 4/21/14 9:43 AM
 

alli3131
Peanut is here!!!!!!

Member since 5/09

18388 total posts

Name:
Allison

Re: Illegal apartment rentals.

Posted by LiveandLearn

Posted by MorningCuppaCoffee

Posted by MegZee

Posted by afternoondelight828

Posted by lynnd126

Unless it's some extreme situation I think you should mind your own business.



I don't really know how someone even knows if it is legal or illegal?



In brookhaven you can search online for rental permits.

I live near stony brook and it's becoming a huge problem.



Doesn't this have to do with them renting out houses to tons of college students? I thought I read an article about this.....



Yes. I know two people who are now selling in SB because of this. I don't think that what they are doing is illegal (a developer bought the houses and are renting them out). The issue is more 8 college aged students living in one house (cars coming and going at all times, noise, properties not being maintained, etc.)



Because this is now considered a group housing type of thing. X # of people living under one roof that are not related. Many towns have laws against this type of thing.

Posted 4/21/14 10:02 AM
 

MegZee
My bunny

Member since 5/06

8777 total posts

Name:
Meaghan

Re: Illegal apartment rentals.

Posted by LiveandLearn

Posted by MorningCuppaCoffee

Posted by MegZee

Posted by afternoondelight828

Posted by lynnd126

Unless it's some extreme situation I think you should mind your own business.



I don't really know how someone even knows if it is legal or illegal?



In brookhaven you can search online for rental permits.

I live near stony brook and it's becoming a huge problem.



Doesn't this have to do with them renting out houses to tons of college students? I thought I read an article about this.....



Yes. I know two people who are now selling in SB because of this. I don't think that what they are doing is illegal (a developer bought the houses and are renting them out). The issue is more 8 college aged students living in one house (cars coming and going at all times, noise, properties not being maintained, etc.)



Depending on the size of the house, Brookhaven code is no more than 4 unrelated people in a rented house.

Most of these houses have more than 4 kids. I was looking at a house in SB- a gorgeous colonial- and across the street there are 7 cars, 2 parked on the grass. Now I know why the house was priced low. So it definitely drives down values

Posted 4/21/14 10:02 AM
 

kahlua716
3 Girls for Me!

Member since 8/07

12475 total posts

Name:
Keri

Re: Illegal apartment rentals.

Posted by secretlyTTCagain

I am surprised by how many people said to ignore something illegal and just look the other way to keep the peace. If your neighbor was dealing drugs from their basement would you feel the same way? A lot of the same arguments could apply (they need the money, arguably not hurting anyone etc, would put the person in legal trouble if it was prosecuted, etc). I do personally think dealing drugs from your house is more of a "menace" to the neighborhood than an illegal apartment but both are illegal and "they needed the money" doesn't really cut it for me



This was my thoughts exactly.

In the situation the OP presented, I wouldn't do anything.

If it is merely a problem of people parking in front of your home (and you actually USE the space) then I would approach the neighbors and ask them nicely to park somewhere else as you need the space in front of your house. I would ask EVERY time the person parks there- thereby being just as annoying as they are- until they comply.

I wouldn't do anything further than that unless there was vandalism or something dangerous going on.

Message edited 4/21/2014 11:11:51 AM.

Posted 4/21/14 11:10 AM
 

ave1024
I Took The Wrong Road

Member since 12/07

6153 total posts

Name:
That Led To The Wrong Tendencies

Re: Illegal apartment rentals.

Posted by ISpoilHim

Posted by 2boys4me

Posted by ISpoilHim

I am only trying to understand.
People keep mentioning the extra taxes for a rental apartment. What extra taxes are there? If the reference is to additional services needed for the home (ie trash removal) what is the difference between a home with parents and 1 adult child vs. a home with a couple and 1 renter. The services needed by the town would be the same. You don't pay property taxes based on the # of people living in the home. The number of cars would be the same.

I do understand the safety issue presented with overcrowded homes but it doesn't have to be an illegal rental to be overcrowded.

I think that on Long Island there tends to be a negative stigma associated with renting in general - regardless of if you are renter or landlord and legal or illegal.



We had the superintendent speak at a civic association event about two years ago explaining how illegal apartments are putting a strain on the school district and how the taxes thing comes into play. We rent a house. It's my husband, my two children and myself. Our rent pays the mortgage which pays the taxes for ONE family...our two boys should we choose to use the district. Say our landlord split this house into two apartments, which is what is occurring around our village, and we lived on the bottom floor with our two kids and a family with two or three kids moved upstairs. Our landlord is still paying the same amount for his mortgage and the same amount in taxes as he would if it was just us but now there are 4-5 kids in the house using the school district. That wouldn't be so bad if it was just one or two houses in the district doing this BUT in our district this situation has skyrocketed within the last 5 years but it's more like 3-4 families with about 7-10 kids living in one house and it's happening all over the district so now the district is facing huge issues. There has been a huge influx of students within a short period of time and there is no space for them all to go. We are short on teachers. Most of these new students are Spanish speaking and require ESL services and sometimes they are behind depending on the country they came from so they require other services as well like resource room, extra help, etc. Since the homes that they live in are only paying one families worth of taxes on a house with 3-4 families in it, the district isn't financially prepared to pay for new teachers and to expand the buildings to fit all these students. They can't even afford to make the repairs on the buildings they already have. So what are they suppose to do?

As a renter on Long Island, I totally get why these people rent illegal apartments. We are in our late 20's with two boys and neither of us were able to live at home until we got married to save for a house like a lot of other people can so we had no choice but to be renters and with the cost of renting even the tiniest place makes it impossible to save for a home which is what we want, to be homeowners, more than anything in the world. We are also both educated, responsible people who work very hard and finding a job that pays enough to not only own a home but for us...just to pay rent, bills, and groceries, is nearly impossible.

I get both sides. We aren't renting an illegal apartment, we have a whole house to rent and barely make it but if we couldn't afford this then we would have to live somewhere right? Also, I get why homeowners do it as well. When mg stepdad was alive he had a home in Massapequa Park that had a basement apartment that he didnt rent out at first, it was our playroom growing up but then he got sick and had a lot of medical bills and had to pay for them somehow. He got sick after the market tanked and he was underwater in his mortgage. He tried to refy but was denied and he couldnt sell for soemthing smaller like you all are suggesting. He had no choice but to rent his apartment out to pay for his medicine and dr bills. I don't know what the answer is for either side. It's such a sad situation here on the island.



I get the school taxes thing. But I am questioning if the apartment is being rented to a single person vs a large family residing in the same house. Suppose I have 5 kids. Well, I don't pay more for my 5 kids to go to school vs. the family that has no children or 1 child in school.




You use more utilities, county utilities. Illegal rentals equal two kitchens, two stoves, more possibility for potential fire.

How would you like it if your house has a fire and the FD is late getting to your house because they are stuck at somebody's house with three illegal apartments and one of them caught on fire due to improperly installed electric/gas/etc.

Posted 4/21/14 11:14 AM
 

kahlua716
3 Girls for Me!

Member since 8/07

12475 total posts

Name:
Keri

Re: Illegal apartment rentals.

Posted by 2boys4me

Posted by ISpoilHim

I am only trying to understand.
People keep mentioning the extra taxes for a rental apartment. What extra taxes are there? If the reference is to additional services needed for the home (ie trash removal) what is the difference between a home with parents and 1 adult child vs. a home with a couple and 1 renter. The services needed by the town would be the same. You don't pay property taxes based on the # of people living in the home. The number of cars would be the same.

I do understand the safety issue presented with overcrowded homes but it doesn't have to be an illegal rental to be overcrowded.

I think that on Long Island there tends to be a negative stigma associated with renting in general - regardless of if you are renter or landlord and legal or illegal.



We had the superintendent speak at a civic association event about two years ago explaining how illegal apartments are putting a strain on the school district and how the taxes thing comes into play. We rent a house. It's my husband, my two children and myself. Our rent pays the mortgage which pays the taxes for ONE family...our two boys should we choose to use the district. Say our landlord split this house into two apartments, which is what is occurring around our village, and we lived on the bottom floor with our two kids and a family with two or three kids moved upstairs. Our landlord is still paying the same amount for his mortgage and the same amount in taxes as he would if it was just us but now there are 4-5 kids in the house using the school district. That wouldn't be so bad if it was just one or two houses in the district doing this BUT in our district this situation has skyrocketed within the last 5 years but it's more like 3-4 families with about 7-10 kids living in one house and it's happening all over the district so now the district is facing huge issues. There has been a huge influx of students within a short period of time and there is no space for them all to go. We are short on teachers. Most of these new students are Spanish speaking and require ESL services and sometimes they are behind depending on the country they came from so they require other services as well like resource room, extra help, etc. Since the homes that they live in are only paying one families worth of taxes on a house with 3-4 families in it, the district isn't financially prepared to pay for new teachers and to expand the buildings to fit all these students. They can't even afford to make the repairs on the buildings they already have. So what are they suppose to do?

As a renter on Long Island, I totally get why these people rent illegal apartments. We are in our late 20's with two boys and neither of us were able to live at home until we got married to save for a house like a lot of other people can so we had no choice but to be renters and with the cost of renting even the tiniest place makes it impossible to save for a home which is what we want, to be homeowners, more than anything in the world. We are also both educated, responsible people who work very hard and finding a job that pays enough to not only own a home but for us...just to pay rent, bills, and groceries, is nearly impossible.

I get both sides. We aren't renting an illegal apartment, we have a whole house to rent and barely make it but if we couldn't afford this then we would have to live somewhere right? Also, I get why homeowners do it as well. When mg stepdad was alive he had a home in Massapequa Park that had a basement apartment that he didnt rent out at first, it was our playroom growing up but then he got sick and had a lot of medical bills and had to pay for them somehow. He got sick after the market tanked and he was underwater in his mortgage. He tried to refy but was denied and he couldnt sell for soemthing smaller like you all are suggesting. He had no choice but to rent his apartment out to pay for his medicine and dr bills. I don't know what the answer is for either side. It's such a sad situation here on the island.



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Posted 4/21/14 11:32 AM
 

busymomonli
Resident Insomniac

Member since 4/13

2046 total posts

Name:

Illegal apartment rentals.

Since I have some experience with this, I just want throw out there that some of these towns make it very, very difficult to legalize an apartment. We had been turned down, turned down again, and turned down again. You must attend numerous town board meetings, shell out much money for architectural plans to be turned down yet again. I can see why people go the illegal route.

Posted 4/21/14 1:37 PM
 

tara73
carseat nerd

Member since 11/09

3669 total posts

Name:
Buttercup

Re: Illegal apartment rentals.

Posted by 2boys4me

We had the superintendent speak at a civic association event about two years ago explaining how illegal apartments are putting a strain on the school district and how the taxes thing comes into play. We rent a house. It's my husband, my two children and myself. Our rent pays the mortgage which pays the taxes for ONE family...our two boys should we choose to use the district. Say our landlord split this house into two apartments, which is what is occurring around our village, and we lived on the bottom floor with our two kids and a family with two or three kids moved upstairs. Our landlord is still paying the same amount for his mortgage and the same amount in taxes as he would if it was just us but now there are 4-5 kids in the house using the school district. That wouldn't be so bad if it was just one or two houses in the district doing this BUT in our district this situation has skyrocketed within the last 5 years but it's more like 3-4 families with about 7-10 kids living in one house and it's happening all over the district so now the district is facing huge issues. There has been a huge influx of students within a short period of time and there is no space for them all to go. We are short on teachers. Most of these new students are Spanish speaking and require ESL services and sometimes they are behind depending on the country they came from so they require other services as well like resource room, extra help, etc. Since the homes that they live in are only paying one families worth of taxes on a house with 3-4 families in it, the district isn't financially prepared to pay for new teachers and to expand the buildings to fit all these students. They can't even afford to make the repairs on the buildings they already have. So what are they suppose to do?

As a renter on Long Island, I totally get why these people rent illegal apartments. We are in our late 20's with two boys and neither of us were able to live at home until we got married to save for a house like a lot of other people can so we had no choice but to be renters and with the cost of renting even the tiniest place makes it impossible to save for a home which is what we want, to be homeowners, more than anything in the world. We are also both educated, responsible people who work very hard and finding a job that pays enough to not only own a home but for us...just to pay rent, bills, and groceries, is nearly impossible.

I get both sides. We aren't renting an illegal apartment, we have a whole house to rent and barely make it but if we couldn't afford this then we would have to live somewhere right? Also, I get why homeowners do it as well. When mg stepdad was alive he had a home in Massapequa Park that had a basement apartment that he didnt rent out at first, it was our playroom growing up but then he got sick and had a lot of medical bills and had to pay for them somehow. He got sick after the market tanked and he was underwater in his mortgage. He tried to refy but was denied and he couldnt sell for soemthing smaller like you all are suggesting. He had no choice but to rent his apartment out to pay for his medicine and dr bills. I don't know what the answer is for either side. It's such a sad situation here on the island.



This.

We had such a hard time finding an affordable rental on LI and lucked into our last one where we had our kids. (which was legal). We left the island because we couldn't really afford a bigger place and weren't in a position to buy at the time. We know many in our age group who have left for the same reason.

Coming from out of state, I'd never heard of illegal apartments before, either.

Posted by busymomonli

Since I have some experience with this, I just want throw out there that some of these towns make it very, very difficult to legalize an apartment. We had been turned down, turned down again, and turned down again. You must attend numerous town board meetings, shell out much money for architectural plans to be turned down yet again. I can see why people go the illegal route.



And this makes me angry about it all. This is insane. If it is up to code it should be ok to be approved. Instead, the towns make it all so difficult that no one can gain approval and so they end up saying eff it and just do it the illegal route. And it doesn't matter if the house was built properly, it is up to code etc. It doesn't matter if it was legal last month, suddenly it can be illegal because a PERMIT expired? That's garbage, that doesn't have a damned thing to do with "safety concerns" or "tax issues" because I guarantee you the house is still being charged the higher tax rate as a multi family even if the permit is expired. And? Based on conversations wtih people who have gone through the process of making a legal accessory apartment on LI? It really seems that it's all politics and how many palms you can grease or how many hoops you can tolerate jumping through.

Message edited 4/21/2014 1:50:29 PM.

Posted 4/21/14 1:46 PM
 

LiveandLearn
LIF Adult

Member since 4/10

1586 total posts

Name:

Re: Illegal apartment rentals.

Posted by MegZee

Posted by LiveandLearn

Posted by MorningCuppaCoffee

Posted by MegZee

Posted by afternoondelight828

Posted by lynnd126

Unless it's some extreme situation I think you should mind your own business.



I don't really know how someone even knows if it is legal or illegal?



In brookhaven you can search online for rental permits.

I live near stony brook and it's becoming a huge problem.



Doesn't this have to do with them renting out houses to tons of college students? I thought I read an article about this.....



Yes. I know two people who are now selling in SB because of this. I don't think that what they are doing is illegal (a developer bought the houses and are renting them out). The issue is more 8 college aged students living in one house (cars coming and going at all times, noise, properties not being maintained, etc.)



Depending on the size of the house, Brookhaven code is no more than 4 unrelated people in a rented house.

Most of these houses have more than 4 kids. I was looking at a house in SB- a gorgeous colonial- and across the street there are 7 cars, 2 parked on the grass. Now I know why the house was priced low. So it definitely drives down values



I don't know the exact law so maybe it is illegal because of the # of people. I just know the people who are selling is because of things you mentioned above. Cars in the street is one thing but on the lawn is something else. Also, with that much movement you never really know who is coming and going and it starts to get unsettling.

Posted 4/21/14 1:57 PM
 

busymomonli
Resident Insomniac

Member since 4/13

2046 total posts

Name:

Re: Illegal apartment rentals.


And this makes me angry about it all. This is insane. If it is up to code it should be ok to be approved. Instead, the towns make it all so difficult that no one can gain approval and so they end up saying eff it and just do it the illegal route. And it doesn't matter if the house was built properly, it is up to code etc. It doesn't matter if it was legal last month, suddenly it can be illegal because a PERMIT expired? That's garbage, that doesn't have a damned thing to do with "safety concerns" or "tax issues" because I guarantee you the house is still being charged the higher tax rate as a multi family even if the permit is expired. And? Based on conversations wtih people who have gone through the process of making a legal accessory apartment on LI? It really seems that it's all politics and how many palms you can grease or how many hoops you can tolerate jumping through.



This is exactly what happened to us! We have a legal accessory apt, which we had already renewed a few times, and at some point they just decided that the "plans" werent good enough anymore. We had to have new plans drawn up, and an inspector come. Suddently the new plans weren't right, the inspector wanted changes made. We made the changes, and still got turned down. I really just felt like they were just taking pleasure in taking my money and causing me more frustration. This went on for years!!

Message edited 4/21/2014 2:02:55 PM.

Posted 4/21/14 2:02 PM
 

Dani
Life is about choices.

Member since 5/05

6532 total posts

Name:
Dani

Re: Illegal apartment rentals.

the only thing i would have a problem with is if people were in danger of their safety...and quite honestly, renters, landlords, homeowners...it could be anyone. so unless you are in fear of your safety, i would let it go. many valid point s already made

Posted 4/21/14 3:11 PM
 

Eunyboo
<3

Member since 7/12

4376 total posts

Name:
E

Re: Illegal apartment rentals.

The whole tax argument is kind of Chat Icon if you ask me. My neighbor had three kids who went to private. She paid the same amount of tax as we did.

Posted 4/21/14 3:28 PM
 

MC09
arrrghhh!!!!

Member since 2/09

5674 total posts

Name:
Me speaks pirate!

Re: Illegal apartment rentals.

There was no mention in OP about there being a drug problem going on in these apartments. Also, there is no mention of vandalism or personal problems with the tenants. Although she said there were many reasons, her main complaints were she's tired of seeing cars parked all over (?) and the tax issue.

Again, you own the house, not the street outside the house. As much fun as it is to be queen for a day, you cannot dictate who gets to park there. Sometimes you luck out and get courteous neighbors who won't park there. Score! Now you get to walk less to your front door! Sometimes, however, you don't. Such is life. It's legal for anyone to park there. It's public property. Short of standing on your porch with a shotgun, or pestering your neighbors until you become the town crotchety geriatric fart (not so good on the social front) there's really not much you can do. (I don't know, maybe because I'm not from LI, but I can't even imagine how ridiculous -- and entertaining --this exchange with the neighbor would sound... "Hi, I purchased that home across the street and as such I also purchased that snippet of public street that runs in front of it. That entitles me to exclusive use of said snippet for all my parking and lounging needs. Translation: MY. CAR. ONLY!!!")

But, on a more serious note... the bigger question is WHY are all these illegal apartments popping up? Skyrocketing taxes and rising COL are a major issue for everyone in the area. They are choking some households and pricing many people out of the homes/neighborhoods they grew up in. That's a much bigger problem. Like a PP said, she has past experience with the politics involved trying to legalize an apt. Making it near impossible for people to legalize their apartments and pushing people out due to rising taxes takes care of the "changing dynamic of the neighborhood" as one poster put it. If people can't realize why that's fuked up, then they're part of the problem. That's a whole other post. Back to the apartments... I can't imagine there are many people who like opening their doors to strangers and the potential problems that come along with that. Careless tenants who damage property and cost the LL a lot of money in repairs, possibility of having a tenant that doesn't pay rent, possible lawsuits, and all of the dangers involved with making your family/children vulnerable to strangers on the property.

When you leave people with little choice, they're going to find other ways to do things. You'll be surprised with the solutions they come up with.

Message edited 4/21/2014 3:34:37 PM.

Posted 4/21/14 3:29 PM
 

alli3131
Peanut is here!!!!!!

Member since 5/09

18388 total posts

Name:
Allison

Re: Illegal apartment rentals.

Posted by MC09

Again, you own the house, not the street outside the house. As much fun as it is to be queen for a day, you cannot dictate who gets to park there. Sometimes you luck out and get courteous neighbors who won't park there. Score! Now you get to walk less to your front door! Sometimes, however, you don't. Such is life. It's legal for anyone to park there. It's public property. Short of standing on your porch with a shotgun, or pestering your neighbors until you become the town crotchety geriatric fart (not so good on the social front) there's really not much you can do. (I don't know, maybe because I'm not from LI, but I can't even imagine how ridiculous -- and entertaining --this exchange with the neighbor would sound... "Hi, I purchased that home across the street and as such I also purchased that snippet of public street that runs in front of it. That entitles me to exclusive use of said snippet for all my parking and lounging needs. Translation: MY. CAR. ONLY!!!")



LI is nothing with parking......go to Boston. They will put out tables and couches and chairs...whatever to save a spot....and I'm talking about Boston proper not the burbs. My guess is parts of queens and Brooklyn people do the same.


Posted 4/21/14 4:23 PM
 

alli3131
Peanut is here!!!!!!

Member since 5/09

18388 total posts

Name:
Allison

Re: Illegal apartment rentals.

Posted by Eunified

The whole tax argument is kind of Chat Icon if you ask me. My neighbor had three kids who went to private. She paid the same amount of tax as we did.



So is the LI is too expensive argument.

Because you have options.....not a single person HAS to live on LI and in a house.

you can move, you can live in LEGAL apts.

A big solution is for people not to buy house they can't afford and just say I will put an apt in to afford the mortgage.

Its not rare....people do it everyday. I have friends that did it. Rather than buy a cheaper house or in a different town....they bought the house in the nicer town that they really can't afford and will just have an illegal apt.....

I'm sorry that thought process is all part of the issue.

and I'm sure that this will causeChat Icon Chat Icon Chat Icon Chat Icon Chat Icon Chat Icon

Message edited 4/21/2014 4:27:32 PM.

Posted 4/21/14 4:27 PM
 

NervousNell
Just another chapter in life..

Member since 11/09

54917 total posts

Name:
..being a mommy and being a wife!

Re: Illegal apartment rentals.

Posted by alli3131

Posted by Eunified

The whole tax argument is kind of Chat Icon if you ask me. My neighbor had three kids who went to private. She paid the same amount of tax as we did.



So is the LI is too expensive argument.

Because you have options.....not a single person HAS to live on LI and in a house.

you can move, you can live in LEGAL apts.

A big solution is for people not to buy house they can't afford and just say I will put an apt in to afford the mortgage.

Its not rare....people do it everyday. I have friends that did it. Rather than buy a cheaper house or in a different town....they bought the house in the nicer town that they really can't afford and will just have an illegal apt.....

I'm sorry that thought process is all part of the issue.

and I'm sure that this will causeChat Icon Chat Icon Chat Icon Chat Icon Chat Icon Chat Icon



Nope i agree with you. When we were looking for houses we would have LOVED a bigger house. Our house is painfully small. But guess what, at the time it was what we could afford. Comfortably. Without going into debt. Without taking out a mortgage we could not afford to pay God forbid one of us got laid off, or sick or whatever. Without having to rent an illegal apartment to pay our mortgage.

I hate how cramped we are in our home. I'd love more room, a bigger kitchen, a basement etc. But we dont' NEED these things. It would be nice- sure, but it's not a NECESSITY.

Same with our cars. I'd LOVE a new car every few years, or a luxury car. But again we don't need them and I'd rather drive something I can afford.

Buying what we can afford. Geez what a concept.

Posted 4/21/14 4:44 PM
 

afternoondelight828
LIF Adult

Member since 1/13

3363 total posts

Name:
Afternoon

Re: Illegal apartment rentals.

Posted by NervousNell

Posted by alli3131

Posted by Eunified

The whole tax argument is kind of Chat Icon if you ask me. My neighbor had three kids who went to private. She paid the same amount of tax as we did.



So is the LI is too expensive argument.

Because you have options.....not a single person HAS to live on LI and in a house.

you can move, you can live in LEGAL apts.

A big solution is for people not to buy house they can't afford and just say I will put an apt in to afford the mortgage.

Its not rare....people do it everyday. I have friends that did it. Rather than buy a cheaper house or in a different town....they bought the house in the nicer town that they really can't afford and will just have an illegal apt.....

I'm sorry that thought process is all part of the issue.

and I'm sure that this will causeChat Icon Chat Icon Chat Icon Chat Icon Chat Icon Chat Icon



Nope i agree with you. When we were looking for houses we would have LOVED a bigger house. Our house is painfully small. But guess what, at the time it was what we could afford. Comfortably. Without going into debt. Without taking out a mortgage we could not afford to pay God forbid one of us got laid off, or sick or whatever. Without having to rent an illegal apartment to pay our mortgage.

I hate how cramped we are in our home. I'd love more room, a bigger kitchen, a basement etc. But we dont' NEED these things. It would be nice- sure, but it's not a NECESSITY.

Same with our cars. I'd LOVE a new car every few years, or a luxury car. But again we don't need them and I'd rather drive something I can afford.

Buying what we can afford. Geez what a concept.



Same here, smaller house, smaller mortgage though and don't have to have anyone else living with us, legally or illegally. Chat Icon

Message edited 4/21/2014 4:55:51 PM.

Posted 4/21/14 4:55 PM
 

ave1024
I Took The Wrong Road

Member since 12/07

6153 total posts

Name:
That Led To The Wrong Tendencies

Re: Illegal apartment rentals.

Posted by Eunified

The whole tax argument is kind of Chat Icon if you ask me. My neighbor had three kids who went to private. She paid the same amount of tax as we did.




Not all of your taxes you paid goes toward the school.

Posted 4/21/14 5:18 PM
 

Millie3
LIF Adult

Member since 7/13

1280 total posts

Name:

Re: Illegal apartment rentals.

In my area, the houses are all the same. Pretty decent sizes, upper middle class area. I am noticing many homes having extended family moving in. Parents , siblings etc. there are 4-5 adults living in these homes , plus kids. I think this will be happening more and more. Whether the houses are being rented, or extended families are moving in, there will be more cars and possibly noise for most towns. The economy is forcing more people into smaller spaces, I feel like there is a reason towns are ignoring this. Maybe overwhelmed with complaints?

Posted 4/21/14 5:28 PM
 

KarenK122
The Journey is the Destination

Member since 5/05

4431 total posts

Name:
Karen

Illegal apartment rentals.

While I do not agree with illegal apartments, I would never say anything unless the tenants were doing something really awful. Parking in the street is not one of those reasons. Many people want to live on LI and it is very hard to afford a house for some people. If they had affordable apartment complexes then maybe that would alleviate the issue of illegal house rentals. No one wants apartment buildings being built in their area and they also don't want illegal apartments. It's a no win situation. I live in a complex and pay close to 2700 for a 2 bedroom. It's crazy but we wanted a specific school district and a legal apartment. I think the rent is highway robbery but there are not that many options out there.

Posted 4/21/14 5:47 PM
 

Eunyboo
<3

Member since 7/12

4376 total posts

Name:
E

Re: Illegal apartment rentals.

Posted by ave1024

Posted by Eunified

The whole tax argument is kind of Chat Icon if you ask me. My neighbor had three kids who went to private. She paid the same amount of tax as we did.




Not all of your taxes you paid goes toward the school.



I know, just pointed out the kids bc main argument about taxes was regarding the kids living in the house.

Posted 4/21/14 5:54 PM
 

tara73
carseat nerd

Member since 11/09

3669 total posts

Name:
Buttercup

Re: Illegal apartment rentals.

Posted by alli3131


LI is nothing with parking......go to Boston. They will put out tables and couches and chairs...whatever to save a spot....and I'm talking about Boston proper not the burbs.




It extends out into the more densely populated burbs as well, especially north of Boston, like Everett, Chelsea, Somerville, Medford, Malden........ and it's a serious offense. I grew up with it, and it really is. You don't touch my lawnchair!!!!!!


Posted by alli3131
you can move, you can live in LEGAL apts.



If you can find and/or afford one.

We started looking for a legal apartment in late November/early December 2007 before DD1 was born. We moved in April 2008. It took months to find one that was a reasonable price, in a decent neighborhood, that was within a reasonable commute to both of our workplaces, and that had open apartments we could move into.

Unfortunately, there is a lack of affordable and habitable housing on Long Island, especially apartments. Some of the complexes out there just aren't affordable for average people. I can't afford $2600/mo to live in Southpoint or something. Most people making less than $100k/yr can't.

And it's very common for people in other parts of the world and country to buy multifamily houses as their first homes. I have many friends and family that do and have done this in the Boston area. It's a very common practice and it is actually calculated into the mortgage (or used to be).

But, then again, like I said, I'd never heard of this whole "illegal apartment" thing until I moved to Long Island.

Posted 4/21/14 6:04 PM
 

LadyS
LIF Toddler

Member since 8/11

382 total posts

Name:
Vicki S

Re: Illegal apartment rentals.

Posted by Millie3

In my area, the houses are all the same. Pretty decent sizes, upper middle class area. I am noticing many homes having extended family moving in. Parents , siblings etc. there are 4-5 adults living in these homes , plus kids. I think this will be happening more and more. Whether the houses are being rented, or extended families are moving in, there will be more cars and possibly noise for most towns. The economy is forcing more people into smaller spaces, I feel like there is a reason towns are ignoring this. Maybe overwhelmed with complaints?



My divorced aunt, her 2 daughters (in their 20's) and 1 of the boyfriends live in the same house with my 3 single uncles. It was their childhood home, and my aunt/uncles are in their 50-60's. two of my uncles converted the basement into a seperate living area for more privacy. At any given time, there are 7 cars that have to be parked somewhere on the street. I don't think they all chose to end up living together. Situations changed, medical issues arose, they ended up not being able to afford living on their own and one by one they moved back home. Unfortunately, I don't think their living arrangement is uncommon as I see multigenerational families living together in my area as well.

Posted 4/21/14 6:46 PM
 
Pages: 1 2 3 [4] 5 6 7
 

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