"legal duplex" vs. "non-legal duplex"

[Mike Purvis]

Hey guys,

I'm looking in the GTA for a duplex or a triplex. I see a lot advertised as a non-legal duplex but still advertised with multiple units. What are the legal issues of renting out a unit in your house when it's not legally a duplex or triplex?

How hard is it to turn a non-legal duplex into a legal duplex/triplex. How much does this cost in terms of fees from the city (ballpark)?

Thanks!

[Gary McGowan]

Many answers to your question.
The main difference is the city can shut your building down if it has an illegal unit. Yes this happened to me on a triplex. Zoning only allowed for a single family home. The Ontario government back in the early 90's past a bill that mandated all municipalities must allow a min of two units per property. A legal-non conforming unit is one that ex sisters before 1994 and has not changed use since.

All municipalities have different laws on what is required. Not all areas actually allow two or three suites. In Newmarket you can legally add a second suite and in Vaughan you can not at the moment. Oshawa and Whitby yes.

I would stay clear of properties that are not legal and look at areas where I can add a suite if I could not find what I'm looking for.

As for cost. This can be all over the place. Fire rated separation between the units (5/8s drywall). Fire suppression in the furnace room. Fire rated doors on the furnace room, entry doors for the units. Electrical inspection. Fire inspection. Building inspection. Min ceiling height. Min parking. second egress for each unit.

Just a few thoughts.