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February 25, 2006
English Basement
What is an English Basement?
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It's a basement with windows that are at least partially above street level. Often the back yard is lower than the street, so a back door will open out into the yard. But on the street side, you walk down a few steps to get into the basement.
Posted by: Adam Tibbs at February 25, 2006 10:07 AM
It also won't have a floor below it, so the boiler, etc, is in the "english basement". As opposed to a "garden level" (ie. basement) with a cellar.
Posted by: Anonymous at February 25, 2006 2:18 PM
the windows need to be lower than 50% below grade level determined by adjacent street curb level (not rear yard level) to be considered living space (sleeping, bathroom with more than 2 fixtures)
Posted by: Anonymous at February 25, 2006 2:55 PM
Anonymous 2:18's definition is what I always thought of as an English basement (i.e. no celler underneath).
I think the term also implies the absence of a traditional (for NYC) high stoop--the main entrance is on the ground floor rather than the first (parlor) floor.
Posted by: Bob Marvin at February 26, 2006 6:10 PM
Depending on how large the house is, and how you use it, if you are considering one with an English Basement, please keep in mind that your mechanicals (boiler, water heater, meters, etc) can take up quite a bit of room, leaving you with little more than half a floor of usable space. A traditional house with a cellar is another whole floor's worth of living, plus a rec or laundry room,storage, a workshop, etc, in addition to the mechanicals down in the cellar.
That may not matter, but it is something to be aware of in buying a house.
Posted by: CrownHeightsProud at February 27, 2006 2:35 PM
Does anyone know whether it's valid to have a living quarter which is 50% below "grade" such as an English basement type floor. My lowest floor in a Federal town house built 1826 has this kind of ground floor. It also contains the boiler and hot water heater.
I've been told that there are Landmarks variances which permit living on such a floor.
Does anyone have experience with this??
Posted by: guest at May 11, 2008 7:04 PM
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