5th Unit in Cincinnati Quadplex

[Michael Hooper]

I'm about to close on a Quadplex in Cincinnati OH. The property has 4 units, all 800 sq ft, but in the basement there is a 500 sq ft room with a bathroom. I'm wanting to convert it to a studio apartment to make some extra cash, but I'm not sure about the legality of it. The current landlord said he used to rent it out, but I'm not sure it was necessarily legal. the biggest thing that stuck out to me was there was only one means of egress. In Tennesse, where I live, thats a problem, but I don't know about OH. Also, the property was built in 1959. Do I run into having to get the building up to code if I start doing remodeling? Does anyone have any experience with this sort of thing. In Cincinnati there are thousands of quadplexes, and I believe many of them have added 5th units in the basement. So I'm hoping some has dealt with this before.

[Paul Sian]

Cincinnati does not have a rental license per se like some other Ohio communities have.  You do have to register your property with the county auditor though.  That is a simple one page form where you list any rental units you own.  It is called the Residential Rental Property Form and can be found at Hamiltoncountyauditor.org

No fees required. Just fill it out and mail it in. 

Also Cincinnati has no inspections unless there is a complaint or if subsidized housing is involved then the subsidy provider will inspect on their tenants behalf and all common areas are open for inspection.