Legalize it? (informal second units)

[Carrie K.]

I'm looking to move into a duplex or triplex. In my price range, I keep seeing "single-family homes" with basements or garages that just so happen to have kitchens, bathrooms, and separate entrances.

My first inclination is to see opportunity. If I could get those legalized as second units, that would add value. On the other hand, how do I get a decent level of confidence that I'll be able to legalize it? I don't yet know all the requirements (parking, ceiling height, egress...), and adding a window is one thing, but digging the floor down twelve inches is another. I wouldn't want to buy on the assumption that I could legalize the unit and then find out I couldn't.

But how do I assess this? I doubt the seller would want to give me an option while I kicked over a hornets nest up at Building & Planning. Could I ask the permit counter for general advice without getting into the property specifics? Should I address this during the inspection contingency and pull in an architect or engineer to get their opinion? Should I just assume that if the unit could be legalized, that would have already happened? (I'm not sure I think that -- having met one owner of a place like this, I can say that playing by the rules doesn't seem to be his focus, so I'm not sure he tried.)

Thanks for any advice you have!