Connecting Two Apartments
My next door neighbor wants to rent my apartment and put in an interior access door between his apartment and mine. It is a simple, non-load bearing sheetrock wall that would be opened up. Thus, allowing him to move between his apartment and mine without having to go outside in the public corridor to go…
My next door neighbor wants to rent my apartment and put in an interior access door between his apartment and mine. It is a simple, non-load bearing sheetrock wall that would be opened up. Thus, allowing him to move between his apartment and mine without having to go outside in the public corridor to go between the apartments.
I live in a condo and assuming we get condo board approval I wanted to know if there were any legal or building code issues that we should be aware of. He has agreed to remove the door and put the wall back when the lease ends.
You can file under an alteration II under TPPN 3/97 but then you will need to remove 1 kitchen. You cannot have more then a single kitchen in an apartment unless if required for religious purposes.
If you leave a FPSC door between the tenancies then it should be ok as it can still be considered as two apartments.
you can keep both kitchens as follows: You must put a fireproof self-closing door between the two units. This is similiar to a door between two motel rooms but it is self closing. no vison panels, latchset, spring hinges and a closer – it is supposed to be always closed except when you are walking through it
I’ve filed these and had them approved with DOB although I have to admit not under the current regime
If your condo board requires you to file for a permit, I believe you will be required to remove one kitchen from one apartment. As long as there are two kitchens, it will be considered two separate living units. Placing a door between the units will not maintain the required 2hr separation between living units.
Legalities aside, get the cash to restore back to one apartment upfront and you bear the cost of splitting them back up – it’s a non-trivial amount that won’t be covered by your deposit.
Technically you would need to file for an Alt II permit. There is no provision for a temporary situation as you have mentioned. You will have to see if the building insists on a permit.