Illegal Basement Kitchen

[Elliott]

Where else can you cook meth?
I've seen old ovens installed in the garage (Finnish community). I wouldn't keep the condition.

 

[Terrel L. Shields]

What is required for a c of o.

Arrest it if illegal. What happens to a house without a C of O? Tear it down? I doubt it. I am not going to require it and if the banks wants to then they don't need me to hide behind and said I told them to. Report it and let them decide.

 

[Surf Cat]

If it's a natural gas stove and there's no venting, then it's a health and safety issue and should be conditioned for removal. Even if it's electric, it should be vented properly. That's up to your local codes.

Also, I would value the basement as is. Non permitted with poor workmanship quality which would in essence, be valuing it as if it were unfinished.

 

[Shawangunk RE]

Probably a safety issue. Since you are the local expert. What is required for a c of o. As an aside. What you describe is not the typically accepted definition of a "summer" kitchen. It is just a second kitchen in the basement. But you are in NY. So there is that

A c of o is issued when proper electrical and plumbing inspections were done and the work was done with permits. this basement was finished by a prior homeowner, sometime in the distant past and included an illegal rental apartment in the basement. Never got permits, was never inspected for safety etc. The work is below "workman like" standards. The removal of a stove from an illegal kitchen is a typical ask of underwriters in this area. I was surprised the lender asked why i conditioned the appraisal for it, even though no value was given to the finished basement. It was valued as if unfinished.

 

[Terrel L. Shields]

The removal of a stove from an illegal kitchen is a typical ask of underwriters in this area.

Underwriters, not an appraiser's job. Report and let them be the bad guy.

 

[Shawangunk RE]

If it's a natural gas stove and there's no venting, then it's a health and safety issue and should be conditioned for removal. Even if it's electric, it should be vented properly. That's up to your local codes.

Also, I would value the basement as is. Non permitted with poor workmanship quality which would in essence, be valuing it as if it were unfinished.

Exactly why I conditioned for removal of that stove, I have no idea if its installed correctly and that is not my responsiblity.

 

[Bob Ipock]

If it has a cord and a plug it is easily removed. No reason you can't turn on an electric stove to see if it is working. Pretty easy to see if it is hardwired or a plug in. The stove should not be this big a deal.

 

[Raven59]

In my area, they use this setup for canning. Why make it harder than it needs to be? Please cite a reference where a stove is not personal property.

 

[TC]

In my area, they use this setup for canning. Why make it harder than it needs to be? Please cite a reference where a stove is not personal property.

Every Italian friend of mine had a stove in the basement. It's cooler when you do the canning. Two kitchens was the norm in my home town.

 

[andrew81]

There is also a partially finished basement, RR, HB and kitchen.

In general, an appraisal report should be completed based upon market reaction to the physical, legal, and economic characteristics of the subject property as it exists.
How does the market react to finished areas in the basements?

There is no c of o for the basement finish and the subject is zoned SF Residential.

Is a c of o required for the property to transfer?
How does the market react to no c of o?

I conditioned the appraisal for removal of the stove in the basement

That would be a hypothetical condition.

I also valued the basement as unfinished.

That would also be a hypothetical condition.

The basement finish and stove exist. The FNMA form has 4 check boxes:
- cb1 as-is
- cb2 hypothetical new construction
- cb3 hypothetical repairs or alterations, and
- cb4 extraordinary assumptions

You conditioned the appraisal contrary to what exists based on the hypothetical condition that the basement finish and stove do not exist.

Why? Please explain.