Basement apartment rental

[Andrew Briones]

Hello everyone,   With our kids getting older and starting to move out, I am going to be renting out our 3 bedroom walk out basement.  Its already set up for this just need some finishing touches, about  6k worth.  Back in the single days, I renting this little gem out to a family of 5 for a few years.   Since then it been a little neglected and need work.  Heres my question:  Id be putting in 6k to repairs and such,  would you treat is as a mother in law apartment, as if my mom or kids were down there or as a full rental and witch mean id be claiming rent and writing off the repairs every year?