I am very happy to join the forum, I am from Toronto and looking forward to learn more about real estate investment and grow together with you guys :)I have a property in Toronto, given its zoning already allows for duplex, I am thinking about converting the existing property to a duplex. following is some basic info:2 story semi detach, location: close to middle town,purchase price: CAD 900000 lot size 21*100, 1500-2000 sqrt feet interior, 3 rooms on second floor, 6 feet high basement, 3 separate entries(front door, back door, basement), 1 detached garage in the yard but facing forward(not laneway), parking is in front of the housealready installed gas furnace,property was built in 1910sARV based on nearby duplex: 1.2m+there are several work involved in this project, including change service power to 200A, egress window for basement, open one window for main floor, separation wall to form two units, and create bathroom for main floor, separate meter if basement size is allowed.another thing I am undecided is whether it is worth to underpin the basement to at least 8.5 inch or not, giving the basement is very small (about 400 sqrt feet)I am only on the first stage of the project, where I just started to gather information and source for an architect and project construction team.

It's also all the way to the back of the yard, so they'd have to run plumbing to it from the main house.

Salvage what you can to minimize your losses.

All units individually metered for electricity, and each unit has their own small back yard.  

Perhaps you can get the benefits of a house & yard but keep the price lower than LI. 

We reached our contents policy limit, but when I received the check I was shocked to find well over half of the six figure contents settlement was deducted for inventory and appraisal fees andstorage costs of the salvaged contents.

Things in the yard if it is their responsibility per lease, it is their problem. 

3- Have him sign a new lease and hire someone to take care of the yard and snow?

No central heating, windows units, kitchens and exterior/yard all renovated. 

All said and done, I filled up 5, almost 6 40 yard dumpsters, and almost everything in the house was destroyed by rodents, mold, mildew, and time.